Statement of Philosophy

	A free appropriate public education to all students with disabilities enrolled in the district.
	Special education in the Least Restrictive Environment (L.R.E.). Students with disabilities are educated with non-disabled students to an extent that will appropriately meet each student’s unique needs.
	A continuum of services will be available to students enrolled in a special program, including participation in physical education, art, and music.
	An individualized education program is developed for each student determined to have special needs by a team of related personnel, parents, and students when appropriate. The Individual Education Program will be reviewed at least annually at the team meeting.
	The student’s parents are consulted on a regular basis regarding student’s needs.
	Student education records are maintained in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
	Staff development includes regular inservice training for staff providing educational services to students with disabilities.

Special Education Services

Scottsdale’s well trained professional special educators effectively serve a broad range of disabled students through individualized planning and instruction.

Specialists serving our students with disabilities include special education certified teachers, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, music therapists, teacher specialists, sign language interpreters, and paraeducators trained to serve students who are at least three but less than twenty two years of age and who have at least one of the following conditions: autism/autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, hearing impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disability, mild, moderate or severe mental retardation, multiple disabilities, multiple disabilities with severe sensory impairment, orthopedic impairment, speech/language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment, (preschool moderate delay, preschool severe delay, preschool speech/language delay).

The Special Education department includes professionals who specialize in working with students who have various disabilities and may need related services. Related services may include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, adapted physical education and assistive technology. Students must meet eligibility requirements to enroll in a Special Education program.

Transition services provide purposeful, organized goals designed to help students move from middle school to high school and from high school to post-secondary education and/or employment and quality adult living. Regulations require consideration of transition services for students receiving Special Education by age 14, and each year thereafter.

Special Education Programs: