Brownfield ISD

BROWNFIELD ISD SPECIAL EDUCATION

Mission
Our mission is to identify and serve individuals who meet the federal and state criteria as having a disability requiring specially designed instruction. We strive to collaborate with parents to develop an educational environment to meet the diverse academic, emotional, and social needs of our students in a respectful and positive environment.

Vision
Promoting high-quality instruction, parental collaboration, and individualized education plans so each student can learn and prepare for future success.

Program Overview
The Brownfield ISD Special Education program is based on IDEA of 1997 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997) and the IDEIA of 2004 (Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004). Compliance with state and federal regulations governing special education is regularly monitored.

Special Education is specially designed instruction delivered through an environment that is appropriate for the child’s needs. It requires that students with disabilities be educated with students who do not have disabilities to the greatest extent possible unless the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved. A child may have a disability but must also meet the federal definition for educational purposes to be covered under IDEA and found eligible for special education services.

Brownfield ISD promotes the collaboration between parents’ understanding of their child and professional educators who have experience and knowledge of best instructional practices. Brownfield ISD is committed to providing special education students aged 3 to 21 with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) based upon their unique needs in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) through a continuum of services to promote access to and participation in general education. In Brownfield, a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) is available for all children residing within the Brownfield Independent School District. We serve a range of students with disabilities including children with Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Deafness, Non-Categorical Early Childhood, Emotional Disability, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Specific Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Multiple Disabilities, Other Health Impairment, Orthopedic Impairment, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Visual Impairment.

The Special Education Department of Brownfield ISD offers related services to students who are identified as eligible in order to benefit from special education instruction to access their least restrictive educational environment. We also provide transition planning with students beginning at age 14 (or younger if determined appropriate by the IEP team) to assist them in becoming self-advocates and active citizens.

EVALUATION
Students from ages 3 through 21 (birth through 21 if visually or hearing impaired) are eligible for special education services. Parents, teachers and other BISD staff identify and refer these students for a Full and Initial Individual Evaluation (FIIE). An Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Committee determines the student’s eligibility and educational need based on federal and state criteria.

Full and Initial Individual Evaluations are available by appropriate referral to students residing within Brownfield ISD. Evaluation personnel serve each school by administering evaluations, making recommendations for IEP development, and assisting school staff.

Child with a disability means a child evaluated in accordance with IDEA as having and who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.

Intellectual Disabled,
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Speech or language impairment
Visual Impairment (including blindness)
Emotional Disturbance 
Autism
Traumatic Brain Injury
Other Health Impairment
Orthopedic Impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Deaf-blindness
Multiple Disabilities
Non-Categorical Early Childhood

Brownfield schools provide a continuum of services for students with disabilities. Brownfield ISD provides special education for disabled children from 3-21 years of age (birth through 21 if visually or auditorily disabled), as required by state and federal law.

The school district strives to provide appropriate programs for all students. The programs are established on the following principle: Each student is entitled to educational opportunities appropriate to his/her abilities and needs.

A variety of programming services are available.

Adaptive PE - Students who cannot safely participate in grade level physical education classes are assessed in gross motor skills progress and an IEP is developed by the ARD Committee.
 
Assistive Technology - Any item, piece of equipment, or system, whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized, that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
 
Behavior Specialists - Behavior Specialists are trained professionals who, in the local schools to help, coordinate Functional Assessments of Behavior and Behavior Intervention Plans that address students’ inappropriate behaviors and provide a means to help the students become more academically successful.

Deaf Education Students who are deaf or hearing impaired are provided instruction by a teacher of the Deaf or hearing impaired.
 
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) - This program is for our youngest students. Children who are identified as having a disability are eligible for our ECSE program when they turn 3 years old. This program focuses on helping the children overcome developmental delays in areas such as cognitive, physical and speech. Parents who think their child may have a developmental delay are encouraged to call their child’s campus and ask about scheduling a screening 
Evaluation Services/Child Find - Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer as early as possible all young children with disabilities and their families who are in need of Early Intervention Program (Part C) or Preschool Special Education (Part B/619) services of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Extended School Year Services (ESY) – is an individualized instructional program for eligible students with disabilities that are provided beyond the regular school year. The need for ESY services must be determined on an individual basis by the admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee. 
 
Homebound - A teacher provides instruction to physically ill students in their homes. This short-term service enables the student to keep up with assignments and is not intended for minor illnesses.
 
Inclusion The general education program is modified through the use of special education support services, supplementary aids, or other special arrangements in the general classroom setting.
 
L.I.F.E Skill Instruction The Learning in Functional Environments (L.I.F.E.) program is the name given to describe a service delivery option, which may be considered by the ARD/IEP committee. The LIFE curriculum focuses on training and instruction in functional daily living skills with a strong vocational emphasis at the secondary level to prepare students for work in a supported employment environment when they leave school. The academic areas of reading, writing, and mathematics are included with an emphasis on functional skills to become as independent as possible.
 
Occupational Therapy - provided for developmental, corrective, and other supportive services required to assist the student with a disability to benefit educationally. 
 
Physical Therapy - physical therapists work with other professionals to assist children with disabilities to access their education. This includes activities of a school day, such as moving throughout school grounds, sitting, standing in line or at the board, moving in class or through the building. The school therapist’s focus is not on correcting the student’s disability but enabling the student to participate in school within the limits of the disability. 
 
Resource - Each student enrolled participates in the general school program and receives the assistance of a special education teacher only in those areas in which a specifically identified disability exists.
 
Services for Students with Vision Impairments - Services are provided to children from birth through age twenty-two, who have been identified as visually impaired. The unique needs of the child with visual impairment are addressed for children of all developmental levels.
 
Speech Therapy –  This instructional service is provided by a speech therapist to those students who qualify. Instruction is offered in both articulation and language development.
 
Vocational Adjustment Class –  This special education instruction is provided to a student who is placed on a job with regularly scheduled direct involvement by special education personnel in the implementation of the student's IEP.

Resources & Publications:

The Texas Legal Framework

https://fw.escapps.net/

Overview of Special Education for Parents

Información general para los padres sobre la educación ...

Senate Bill 139: Detailed information on Senate Bill 139 can be found here: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/html/SB00139F.htm and https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/senate-bill-139-notice-to-families

These notices contain the following information:

Changes made from 2016 to 2017 in reporting requirements for LEAs regarding special education enrollment in the Performance Based Monitoring Analysis System
The rights of a child regarding the provision of special education services under both state and federal law
The process and procedures for initiating a referral for evaluation for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and TEC Sec. 29.004.
Where to find local policies and procedures related to initiating a referral for evaluation under IDEA