Special Education

Special Education in the Knightsen School District
The Knightsen Elementary School District provides high-quality education for all students, including those with disabilities. All individuals with disabilities have the right to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The District provides special education instruction and services in accordance with the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students with disabilities are placed in the least restrictive environment that meets their needs.

A student may qualify for Special Education services as an individual with special needs in one of the following identified areas:

• Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• Deaf-Blind
• Visually impaired
• Speech-Language Impaired
• Specific Learning Disability
• Orthopedically Impaired
• Intellectually Disabled
• Emotionally Disturbed
• Autism
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Other Health Impaired  

Determination and eligibility is a team decision.  If a student is determined to be eligible to receive specialized support or services within the district, those supports are identified with the student's educational team and documented through an Individual Education Plan.

Least Restrictive Environment
At each IEP meeting, the team is required to consider a continuum of options for service, beginning with the least restrictive.  The team must determine which combination of services provides the required benefits with the least restriction to the academic, mental, physical, and socio-emotional impact of their environment.  Federal law requires that the educational placement to receive the identified services be as close as possible to the child’s home, and that the child is educated in the school he or she would attend if non-disable, unless the IEP team determines that the child requires some other arrangements and/or support.
 

The Knightsen Elementary School District offers a continuum of Special Education support which includes: push-in, resource, and Special Day Classes. 

Referral for Service
In accordance with providing the least restrictive environment for students, our programs and referrals for service first begin with a student success team or SST.  This team meets together to review student progress, current universal accommodations in place, and determine if any modifications or accommodations are required in the general education classroom.  Following a 6-8 week monitoring period, the team re-convenes to review progress in the classroom, and whether adjustments need to be made or consideration for assessment is warranted.