Special Education

Special education services are available to address the educational needs of students with a disability attending the Detroit Lakes Public Schools.  Services are available to students identified with one or more of the following disabling conditions:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing
• Deaf-Blind
• Developmental Cognitive Disability
• Developmental Delay
• Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
• Other Health Disabilities
• Physically  Impaired
• Severely Multiply Impaired
• Specific Learning Disability
• Speech or Language Impairment
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visual Impaired

Licensed special education teachers work with classroom teachers and related service providers to ensure that each child within our District receives a free and appropriate public education. A child's team includes a licensed teacher, administrator, and other support staff to meet individual needs or the child. Support staff may include Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Social Workers, Deaf Hard or Hearing Teacher, Vision Teacher, and paraprofessionals. All services are based on a child's individual educational needs.

In compliance with Federal and State law, the Detroit Lakes Public Schools identifies and evaluates all students in its jurisdiction, ages birth through 22, suspected of having a disabling condition.  The district regularly conducts “child find” activities, accepting referrals from classroom teachers, parents, physicians and numerous outside agencies. If you suspect your child may suffer from any of the disabling conditions listed above please contact your child’s building principal for more information. Parents who would like to refer a child ages 0-5 for a special education assessment should click the link under Early Childhood Special Education. Questions or comments should be directed to Karen Nudell.

• Procedural Safeguards Part B
• Procedural Safeguards Part C