Under Part B of the individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Colorado is required to develop a State Performance Plan (SPP) that evaluates the State’s efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of IDEA Part B and how the State will improve its implementation. The SPP contains measurable and rigorous targets in 20 indicators that were established by the US Department of Education. Colorado uses a parent survey to measure Indicator 8: Parent Involvement. Our administrative unit (AU) has been selected to participate in this spring’s parent survey. We want to thank our families for taking the time to help us improve education and services for students with disabilities by the completion of this survey.

For more information, please contact: Cale Whicker, 970-586-2361  x3607

An online presentation in both English and Spanish for parents new to the Special Education process is available through the Colorado Department of Education at: http://www.cde.state.co.us/media/IEPVideo/IEPVideo.html

What is Special Education?

Special Education is specialized instruction given to a student because of a disability that adversely affects his/her ability to access the general curriculum of the school.

Special Education is governed through two laws. At the Federal level it is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The re-authorized law went into effect July 1, 2005. At the State level, the regulations are called the Exceptional Child Education Act. (ECEA)

Both of the laws provide for:

  • Identification of students with disabilities from Birth-21

  • Appropriate Services from ages 3-21

  • Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

  • Specially designed program to meet a student's unique needs (IEP)

Categories of Special Education

A student may be determined eligible for services under the following categories:

  • Significant Limited Intellectual Capacity (Cognitive Disability)

  • Significant Identifiable Emotional Disability

  • Specific Learning Disability

  • Speech/Language Disability

  • Preschool Child with a Disability

  • Other Physical Disability

  • Autism

 • Traumatic Brain Injury

 • Multiple Disabilities with Cognitive Impairment

 • Deaf-Blind

  • Vision Disability

 • Hearing Disability

For information about Special Education services in the District, please contact Cale Whicker, Director of Student Services at 970-586-2361 x3607. If your student is already under an IEP, please bring a copy to the school of their most current IEP AND a copy of their most recent testing results when you register your student.