Special Education

 Fair isn’t everybody getting the same thing. Fair is everybody getting what they need in order to be successful.

Fayetteville City Schools Special Education Department takes its responsibility to provide a free and appropriate public education to ALL students very seriously. We offer a continuum of services to meet the unique needs of our students who meet eligibility criteria. Within Fayetteville City Schools, special education is not a place, but rather a continuum of service options. Service decisions are driven by individual needs and include speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, academic and behavioral interventions, and classroom supports. Services are delivered in special education and general education settings, depending on student needs. We believe that all students are general education students first and that every student can learn when given high quality instruction that maximizes their potential. We are truly dedicated to giving our students what they need to be successful.

IDEA - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law ensuring appropriate services to children with disabilities throughout the nation. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Infants and toddlers with disabilities (ages birth through age two) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA, Part C. Children and youth (ages 3–21) receive special education and related services under IDEA, Part B.

Key Terms under IDEA

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)  - IDEA ensures a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for 3-21 year old students with disabilities, implemented through an individualized education program (IEP).

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - IDEA requires that children be educated with non-disabled peers, in the least restrictive environment (LRE) in which they can be successful. Many years of research and experience have demonstrated that the education of students with disabilities is most effective when high expectations for all students are implemented and access to the general education curriculum in the regular classroom is ensured to the maximum extent possible.

Continuum of Services - IDEA mandates that school districts provide a continuum of services and placement options to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

PUBLIC NOTICE -Child Find - Fayetteville City Schools offers comprehensive special education services to eligible students. Early identification and intervention are very important. If you know of any individual ages 3-21 who may have a disability and is not receiving special education services, please contact Tricia Jean at (931) 433-5542 or jeant@fcsboe.org. If you think your child ages 0-3 may have a disability, please call Tennessee's Early Intervention System (TEIS) at 615-904-3636. A free, appropriate, public education with a full continuum of services is available. All referrals are considered confidential. The parent, legal guardian, or surrogate parent retains the right to refuse services; other procedural safeguards under federal and state law will be provided.

Services include screenings and evaluations for areas of suspected disabilities, including specific learning disabilities, speech and language impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities, emotional disturbances, autism, other health impairments, traumatic brain injuries, deaf and blindness, deafness, developmental delays, functional delays, intellectual giftedness, orthopedic impairments, and multiple disabilities.