Special Education FAQ's

 

Special Education FAQ's
 
What are the disabilities that Wauwatosa provides services for?
Wauwatosa will provide services for speech and language impairments, learning disabilities, emotional disturbance, autism, significant developmental delays, orthopedic impairment, cognitive disabilities, and other health impairments.  And if you child is found to have one of these disabilities Wauwatosa may also provide related services of occupational or physical therapy or specially designed physical education services.
 
How does my child qualify for special education services?
A referral for special education can be made by a parent, teacher, principal, or any other staff member who suspects that a child may be a child with a disability. Many times prior to a referral school staff will meet to discuss options in regular education to assist the child before making a referral.  Many schools have Student Assistance Teams (SAT's) which meet on a regular basis to plan for individual students.
 
When can my child start receiving special education services from the public schools?
 Wauwatosa provides services to children with disabilities from age 3-21.
 
What happens if my child is found to have a disability?
If your child is found to have a disability, a special education teacher will write an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child.  You will then be able to review that program and ask questions.  If you agree with the program, you will be asked to sign a permission for placement form, and your child will be provided the modifications indicated in the IEP.
 
What is a related service?
Related services are services that help support a student's special education program.  A student must be identified as a child with a disability in order to receive any related service.  Related services include such services as; physical therapy, occupational therapy, and school health services.
 
What is an IEP?
An IEP is an Individualized Education Program where staff modify the curriculum, the requirements, the grading scale, etc. to fit your child's specific needs and/or learning style.
 
My child attends Wauwatosa through the Chapter 220 or Open Enrollment programs.  Will s/he be able to participate in a special education program?
If your child is referred for special education evaluation Wauwatosa staff who know your child and specialists from your resident district will work together on the evaluation and placement of your child.
 
What schools provide special education services to students?
Special education and related services are provided at all schools in the Wauwatosa School District.  Over 95 percent of children with disabilities receive services at their neighborhood school.  As students are placed in special education, the IEP team first considers placement in the neighborhood school.
 
How many children with disabilities attend school in the Wauwatosa School District?
Approximately 870 children with disabilities receive services.
 
Is the school district required to provide services to parentally placed private school children with disabilities?
Federal special education law requires that annually each school district spend certain minimum amounts of funds on special education and related services for private school children with disabilities ages 3-21.  The district works closely with private schools and parents to identify children with disabilities and determine the services offered to these children.  For children with disabilities enrolled in private schools a services plan is developed rather than an IEP.  This services plan outlines what special education services will be provided to the student.  An example of a service plan would be the provision of speech and language services at one of our district schools.
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The Wauwatosa School District does not discriminate on the basis of a person's color, sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability.
Wauwatosa School District · 12121 West North Avenue · Wauwatosa, WI 53226 · 414-773-1000