Student Support Services

Special education is provided to eligible children and students in Michigan ages birth through 25.

For children from birth to age 3, qualified personnel conducts an evaluation and eligibility is determined by and documented in an individualized family services plan (IFSP). Special education and early intervention services for children birth to age 3 are administered through the Early On^® program or Michigan mandatory special education.

For children and students from ages 3 through 25, a multidisciplinary evaluation team (MET) conducts an initial evaluation to determine a student’s needs. The individualized education program (IEP) team, including the parent, then determines eligibility. For eligible students, the IEP team develops an IEP to meet the needs of the student.

Evaluations and IEPs

Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Each local educational agency and public school academy in Michigan is required to publicly post the process used to determine the existence of a Specific Learning Disability. For determination of a SLD, a Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW) process is used for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, which includes: Oral Expression, Listening Comprehension, Written Expression, Reading Comprehension, Reading Fluency, Math Calculation, and Math Problem Solving. It is noted that regardless of the process used, all schools must follow all of the regulatory requirements in the IDEA, the MARSE, and Michigan laws, policies and procedures for special education.

What is a SLD? A Specific Learning Disability is "a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia that adversely affects a student's educational performance. A SLD does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; mental retardation; emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage." (34 CFR 300.8(c)(10)).

What is a PSW Process? Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses is a process that is used to determine if a student has a SLD. This process involves the collection of data to determine the following:

• The student does not achieve adequately for the student's age or to meet State approved gradelevel standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR 300.309(a)(1)(i) when provided with learning experiences and instruction appropriate for the student's age or State-approved grade-level standards.

• The student exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement, or both, relative to age, State-approved grade-level standards, or intellectual development, that is determined by the Multi-disciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) to be relevant to the identification of a SLD, using appropriate assessments, consistent with the IDEA Evaluation Procedures and Additional Requirements for Evaluations and Reevaluations.

Family Matters Special Education Fact Sheet

Family Matters Special Education Fact Sheet
 

MDE Family Matters Child Find Fact Sheet

Early On Michigan

Early On is Michigan's system for helping families of infants and toddlers, birth to age 3 who have developmental delay(s) and/or disabilities. Early On supports and partners with families to promote the development of their infants and toddlers in developmental areas, such as:

• physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking)
• cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems)
• communication (talking, listening, understanding, gesturing)
• social-emotional (feeling secure, able to calm, playing with others)
• self-help (eating, dressing)

Early On partners with families, using their daily routines to work on supporting the growth and development of their babies.

During the first three years of life, a baby's brain grows and changes dramatically.  Early On emphasizes early identification and early referral to minimize delays and maximize developmental outcomes. Understanding your child's development may help you recognize if your child needs a referral.  Check out the developmental milestones to learn more, and complete the referral form if you have concerns.  

https://www.1800earlyon.org/index.php

What is a 504 Plan?

Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance and ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to programs, activities, and services as compared to non-disabled peers. A 504 Plan documents the agreed upon accommodations and/or services that an eligible student requires in order to have equal access to his or her education, to the same extent as his or her non-disabled peers.

U.S. Department of Education-Section 504