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Students With Disabilities

The Special Education Program provides services to students who are determined eligible for special education services. These services are provided at no cost to parents and are designed to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities.

Students with disabilities who are determined eligible for special education and related services are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Services are provided to eligible students as determined by the Individual Education Program (IEP) from ages 3 through 21 as appropriate.

The Special Education Department will:

  • Promote and participate in collaboration with all stakeholders to provide support for students, schools and the district;
  • Facilitate identification, evaluation and placement of students utilizing federal and state guidelines;
  • Provide specialized instructional support to all schools;
  • Provide direction and resources that support classroom instruction and meet students’ unique needs;
  • Facilitate and ensure that a Free Appropriate Public Education is provided to all eligible students.

Programs and Services

The Dade County Schools System believes very strongly that all children can learn. To the greatest extent possible, students with disabilities are served in the least restrictive environment along with their non-disabled peers. Eligibility areas served include:

  • Autism
  • Deaf/Blind
  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
  • Mild/Moderate/Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities
  • Orthopedic Impairments
  • Other Health Impairments
  • Significant Developmental Delays
  • Specific Learning Disabilities
  • Speech & Language Impairments
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Visually Impaired