An overview of Special Education in the Blue Valley School District

Special education in Blue Valley is not viewed as a place within our schools. Rather, it is viewed as specially and individually designed instruction for students that enables them to make continuous progress in school. Special education programs and services are integrated within each school and are an integral part of Blue Valley's comprehensive schools.

Blue Valley Schools support inclusive practices. Every reasonable effort will be made to maintain students in typical school settings with their age appropriate peers. This inclusive view applies equally to both students who have learning challenges and those who learn at a faster pace. The district's vision statement for inclusion states that students will be "responsibly included in educational and social activities to the maximum extent appropriate and that all members of the school community collaborate through teamwork to understand and teach each student on an individual basis."

Special education programs and services assist teachers in becoming more effective in working with students who have learning differences by providing support to the student and the classroom teachers. Students with special learning needs receive programming and services that are tailored to meet their individual needs. Creativity in problem-solving and collaboration in decision making are fundamental to the promotion of inclusive and quality educational practices.

I am worried about my child’s progress. What can I do?

You should contact your child’s teacher, counselor or princi-
pal. They can assist you in making a referral to your build-
ing’s Student Assistance Team, or in determining if other in-
terventions would be appropriate for your child.

My child is a toddler, and I have concerns about his development. What can I do?

Blue Valley conducts monthly clinics to identify young chil-
dren with special needs in the areas of vision, hearing, com-
munication, motor and play skills. Contact the district for the
location and dates of the clinics.

We are new to the district and my child has an IEP. Who do
I contact?

Contact your neighborhood school. Staff at the school will
schedule a team meeting with you to review the IEP.

What is the difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP?

An IEP is used to plan for the education of a student who is
eligible for special education. A 504 Plan outlines reasonable
classroom modifications needed by a student with a disability
who is not in need of special education services.

What are extended school year services?

Students are eligible for extended school year services when
the IEP Team determines that the student would regress dur-
ing a break in the school year to the extent that the losses
could not be recouped within a matter of six to nine
weeks. Extended school year services are individually tai-
lored to maintain skills rather than to develop new skills.

My child attends private school. How do we access special
education services?

Parents should contact their private school principal to make a
referral to the Blue Valley team. The private school principal will
then contact the district’s designee to coordinate an initial meet-
ing to assist the private school with the intervention process and
to gather information to determine eligibility for special educa-
tion. If the student is eligible for special education, services will
be provided at a Blue Valley school with transportation provided
by the school district.

Are there parent support groups that I can contact?

Each Blue Valley school has a parent representative who serves
on the district’s Special Education Advisory Council. Contact
your principal for the name of that individual. The parent repre-
sentative can assist you in locating district resources or commu-
nity agencies or support groups.

What are my legal rights as a parent of a child with a disability?

You have certain rights or procedural safeguards under federal
and state laws. Your legal rights are extensively described in a
brochure entitled “Parent Rights In Special Education.” You can
access the brochure through your school or on the district Web
site.