SPECIAL EDUCATION - MISSION STATEMENT AND PHILOSOPHY

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Special Education Division is to provide a continuum of quality services for students with handicaps that acknowledges and values individual differences and fosters individual achievement.

PHILOSOPHY
The Special Education Division believes that all students with special needs can and will learn to the best of their abilities.  We are committed to providing a positive educational experience that promotes student achievement and advancement.  We recognize that each student has individual skills, interests, talents, and educational needs, and we believe that we have substantial influence over individual student learning and success.  For these reasons, the emphasis is on providing specialized individual strengths, rather than limitations.  Our focus is on desired student learning outcomes based on positive expectations for each student. In this way, we support each student in achieving his or her own potential and unique success.

The special education process is viewed as a collaborative effort involving families, general education staff, para-professionals, educationally related service providers, other community agencies, and professionals.  We believe that, working together, we all contribute to student success and the achievement of individual goals and objectives.

Special education shares with general education the responsibility and goal to educate all students, including those with handicapping conditions.  For this reason, special education is viewed as an extension of the general education program rather than as a separate program.  Students with handicaps may require certain modifications and adjustments of curricula, materials, and instructional techniques within the inclusive environment, providing a continuum of support.