Special Education is a set of services provided to students who experience exceptional learning needs. Governed by federal law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA), special education is defined as: “Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.” Special education services may be provided across a variety of educational environments to students who have an individualized education program.

Eligibility for special education services requires that students have an identified disability that impacts their ability to learn and requires additional services and resources to effectively participate in school. Children who typically qualify for special education services include those with the following disabilities