Special Education

Students are found eligible for special education services by meeting specific criteria defined by State and Federal Rules and Regulations.  In order to determine if a student is eligible for special education services, a team conducts a comprehensive evaluation.  Students are found eligible in one or more of the following disability areas:

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Emotional or Behavioral Disorder
Specific Learning Disability
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Visual Impairment or Blindness
Other Health Disability
Physical Disability
Traumatic Brain Injury
Speech or Language Disorder (Language, Articulation, Voice, Fluency)
Developmental Cognitive Disability

It is possible to meet the eligibility requirements of a disability and not need special education services. For example, a child with a hearing loss who is succeeding in the general curriculum may not require “specialized instruction.” In such instances, the district is still be required to make reasonable adjustments or accommodations to enable that student to access general education services.  In such cases, a Section 504 Accommodation Plan may be developed.

Teachers and parents who suspect that a student has a disability that is interfering with academic progress may make a referral for a special education evaluation.  Parents are encouraged to talk to the student’s teacher to discuss a referral for a special education evaluation.  That referral will be brought to the special education team for follow up and planning. Teachers may also make referrals for a special education evaluation, which may include implementing academic or behavioral interventions prior to the special education evaluation being conducted.

At least one time per year, Cologne Academy must provide parents with a written summary of their rights regarding their child who is receiving special education services.  A copy of these rights can be accessed here or requested from:

Jami Reinitz:  Special Education Administrative Assistant
jreinitz@cologneacademy.org
Phone #:  952 466-4017

All Minnesota school districts and public charter schools are required to attempt to collect reimbursement for some special education services for children who are eligible for Medical Assistance or MN Care.  Examples of services that could be billed include occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, some paraprofessional services, and special transportation.  If a student is new to Cologne Academy, permission to bill MA will be requested.  Permission is required only once.

The Medical Assistance billing that schools submit in no way affects the benefits of the family or the individual child.  Cologne Academy does not bill private insurance.

In Minnesota, a school may use a restrictive procedure in the event of an emergency. An emergency means that a child’s behavior in the moment has placed him or her or others at imminent risk of injury.  There are two allowable restrictive procedures in the State of Minnesota – physical holding/restraint and seclusion.  At Cologne Academy, only physical holds are used; there are no seclusion rooms and seclusion is never used.  A physical hold can only be used by a person specifically trained and only as a last resort to divert the student from the behavior in the moment.  Cologne Academy staff have used physical holding on rare occasions.  All incidents are reported to parents when they happen and to the MN Department of Education each year.

Because physical holding has been used over the past year, the District is required to have a plan and make that plan available to parents.

Minnesota law (M.S. 125A.24) requires that each district establish a Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) to provide input to the district’s Board of Education and to district administration about policies and decisions that affect children and youth with disabilities. SEAC is composed of parents of children with disabilities and district special education staff.  Cologne Academy’s SEAC meets at least one time per year.  

The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is made up of parents and professionals who are interested in promoting parent involvement at Cologne Academy.

We believe that one of the most important aspects of special education is the role played by parents in the education of their children with special needs. Parents are critical partners in ensuring the long-term success of their children, as Cologne Academy seeks ways in which to best meet these children’s needs. The purpose of the council is to provide a forum for administrators, teachers, and parents of students receiving special education services to come together for the continuous improvement of special education services through collaborative planning and parent education.

SEAC will ….

• Work collaboratively to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities.
• Advocate for children with disabilities and, on behalf of those children, for parents of children with disabilities.
• Provide a forum for parents to share ideas and information.
• Provide information about programs in the community to further support the needs of families of children with disabilities.
• Provide educational opportunities for parents to learn about additional ways to support their child and to advocate more effectively.
• SEAC will meet at least one time per year. Additional meetings can be scheduled across the year to address topics suggested by parents at the annual meeting.

If you are interested in becoming an active member of the Parent Advisory, please contact Nancy Soliday.

nsoliday@cologneacademy.org

The TSES is a plan required by Minnesota Rule 3525.1100 that assures the district is in compliance with state and federal requirements pertaining to the district’s responsibilities and the provision of special education services.  The TSES plan includes:

• the district’s referral process, including referral to special education by parents
• the district’s procedures for identifying and evaluating student suspected of having a disability
• methods used for evaluating students suspected of having a disability
• methods the district uses for providing special education services and the services that are available
• description of the Special Education Advisory Committee as required to encourage parent participation in district special education decision making