Special Education

Our goal is to make your child’s transition into NEISD as smooth and supportive as possible. Here is what you can expect during the first few weeks if you child was previously receiving special education or 504 services,

Both plans support students with disabilities, but they have different eligibility requirements.

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is for a student who qualifies for special education under one of 13 disability categories and needs specially designed instruction. An IEP identifies the student’s strengths and needs, sets measurable annual goals, and describes the instruction, accommodations, and services the school will provide to help the student make progress.

A Section 504 plan is for a student with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, such as walking, learning, concentrating, or breathing. Section 504 has broader eligibility requirements than special education. The plan outlines accommodations and services needed to meet the student’s educational needs and provide equal access to school programs and activities. The school team works with families to evaluate the student’s needs and determine eligibility and appropriate support.

If you have observed ongoing challenges with reading, attention, emotional well-being, or if continued difficulties with daily coursework, please share these concerns with your child’s teacher and/or school.  You may reach in whatever format best suits your need (e.g.—a quick note, a phone call or email).  Your child’s school will share information about a variety of supports and services.   If you request an evaluation, your inquiry will start the process and sets our formal timeline into motion. Once we receive your request, we will collaborate with you to discuss the evaluation process, answer any questions you might have and arrange to obtain your informed consent so our team can begin evaluating your child's unique strengths and needs.

 

After the assessments are completed, we will sit down together as a team to review the results and discuss the best path forward. If your child qualifies for special education services, we will work alongside you to design an Individualized Education Program (IEP) with specific goals and specialized instruction. If your child doesn't need specialized instruction but would benefit from classroom accommodations—like extra time or preferential seating—we will establish a 504 Plan to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed.

NEISD offers a comprehensive continuum of special education programs and related services designed to meet the individualized needs of eligible students, including:

Please visit the links under programs and related services on our home page to learn more.

To be eligible for 18+ transition services in NEISD, a student must meet the following criteria as determined by the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee:

To determine specific eligibility for your child, the campus case manager or Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee can review their graduation plan, transition assessments, and progress toward IEP goals.

For support and assistance, families can utilize several resources at the campus and district levels:

Special education staff at the district level can be found by searching the directory on our webpage.