Special Education

All of our comprehensive schools, Promise kindergarten through grade 12, offer special education services through a continuum of flexible services and supports. General education teachers, special education teachers, and paraeducators form a collaborative team to provide the services described in the student’s IEPs. Also joining these teams as needed are specialists such as speech language therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, audiologist, assistive technology specialist, teachers of the deaf and visually impaired, and others.

As we strive to create more equitable, inclusive learning environments that honor the diversity of our students, we provide a continuum of support in every neighborhood school. We strive to design learning environments in all schools that meet the needs of all of our students, and to educate students with disabilities alongside their peers to the maximum extent possible.

In addition to our services in our comprehensive K-12 schools, we provide services to students with disabilities in the following programs:

Birth to 2:  Bellingham Public Schools partners with community agencies to provide early intervention services through the Department of Early Learning (DEL) Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. Children ages birth through 2 who have delays in their development or have a physical or mental condition that is known to cause a delay in development may be eligible for early intervention services. These services are provided in a child’s natural environment, which may include their home or childcare program.
Preschool: Early childhood preschool programs provide a language-based classroom to students ages 3-4 with developmental delays.
Community Transitions: Community Transitions is a post high school program that serves students who qualify through their evaluation to receive transition services from the age of 18 through the end of the school year during which the student turns 22. Students often encounter a new set of adult challenges which require different responses as they leave the high school setting. CT provides a full continuum of services intended to prepare students for a successful transition to independent living, employment and/or post-secondary training. Supports are individualized based on the student’s need. Staff, parents and the adult student work as a team through the IEP process to create and nurture partnerships with adult services, college staff and businesses in the local community to identify the best place to maximize each individual student’s potential for success.

What is Special Education?

Special Education is specialized instruction for students age Birth through the end of the school year during which the student turns 22, who qualify according to the laws and regulations outlined by state and federal government. A student may qualify for services in one or more of the areas as identified by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The following definitions are from the U.S. Department of Education website.

Autism
Communication Disorders
Deafness
Deaf-Blindness
Developmental Delay
Emotional/Behavioral Disability
Health Impairment
Hearing Impairment
Intellectual Disability
Multiple Disabilities
Orthopedic Impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Traumatic Brain Injury
Visual Impairment

OSPI resources and frequently asked questions

What is Special Education? Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction [OSPI]
How Special Education work? [OSPI]
Making a Referral for Special Education [OSPI]
Eligibility for Special Education [OSPI]
Parent and Student Rights (Procedural Safeguards) [OSPI]

Child Find and the Special Education Referral Process

Each school district has a duty to locate students who are aged 3 through the student’s 22nd birthday residing within the district boundaries who might be in need of Special Education services. This responsibility is called "Child Find."

If at any time you believe a student you may know or work with might have a disability that is impacting their ability to access their education and may need Special Education services, you can contact someone at your student's school and/or at the District Office to request that the student be evaluated for Special Education. Your request needs to be in writing and can be completed on a referral form or via email or handwritten note. Referral form also available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian and Punjabi.

The school district must make a decision whether or not to evaluate and notify the parent or guardian within 25 school days of the referral with a prior written notice.

The Child Find screening process helps us to identify young children who may be eligible for special education services.

A student may be referred for a Special Education evaluation by any individual, including parents. The referral must be made in writing and submitted to the building principal or designee. The Special Education Evaluation Referral Form can be used for this purpose, but is not required.