Technology

Exceptional Program Department

Welcome to Taos Municipal Schools Exceptional

Programs! Our department and staff provide individualized services to students with exceptionalities by highly qualified teachers and ancillary staff. Your child will have an assigned case manager to oversee the development and implementation of his/her program. The case manager assigned to your child and your school principal, along with other team members from the school, will work with you to meet your child’s individual needs throughout the school year.

What are Exceptional Programs?

Students who qualify for exceptional programs have been identified by a multidisciplinary team with one or more of thirteen recognized disabilities and a need for specially designed programming to be successful in school. A multidisciplinary team consists of individuals who have expertise in various areas and most importantly you as their parent! In New Mexico students also qualify for exceptional programs if they meet the state criteria as gifted by a multidisciplinary team in either academic achievement, critical thinking, or creativity.

How do I know if my child qualifies for Exceptional Programs?

There are a number of pathways to potentially identify a student with a disability. 1. Your child can be referred for an evaluation by your schools Student Assistance Team (also known as

SAT) if he/she has not made expected progress, even after research-based interventions have been implemented over time. 2. Your child may have participated in a Child Find activity and a referral may be made to the school district. 3. You can request an evaluation from school personnel at any time. Exceptional Programs staff will meet with you and your child’s teacher to review existing data and provide recommendations. If it is in the best interest of the student to proceed with an evaluation, you will meet with a professional from the district to receive information on the potential assessments and will be asked to sign a consent form to proceed with the assessments. A licensed professional diagnostician will gather more information from both you and your child through some interviews and standardized assessments. Also, other professionals may become involved, such as a Speech Language Pathologist, Physical Therapist,

Occupational Therapist, etc. Any additional information you have from evaluations you have had completed, please share the with the team, as any additional data is added to the ‘body of evidence’ to make the best decision for you child. The team will then meet to review all this data and make an eligibility determination based on state guidelines.

As your child’s parent, you are an essential member of the ‘IEP team’ in the process.

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*The information in this publication is accurate as of the date of publishing and is provided in good faith by Taos Municipal Schools; Information is subject to change without advance notice.

What is an IEP?

An IEP is an Individual Education Plan, which is an agreement between the school and you to provide specifically designed instruction and individualized support to your child to access the same curriculum as other students. It is a living document that should change regularly as the team refines strategies to maximize your child’s ongoing educational success.

Who calls an IEP meeting?

Your child’s case manager will schedule at least one IEP team meeting every year to review your child’s progress on their goals and update the current

IEP. Your child’s case manager will also schedule a re-evaluation every three years. Any member of the

IEP team can call for an additional meeting at any time to review the current document and make any changes to the plan or services. As you are a member of the team, you may ask for a meeting at any time.

Other important terms To know:

IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: This is the guide from the federal government on how special education and related services are provided to children with disabilities. Each state then adds to those laws. For more information you can go to: https://webnew.ped.

state.nm.us/bureaus/special-education/laws-rulesguidance/

FAPE – Free appropriate public education: This is the services that are provided to a child identified with a disability and has an IEP. The educational and related services are provided with no charge to you, provide access to a public education

LRE – Least Restrictive Environment: To the maximum extent appropriate, a child with a disability is educated with their nondisabled pers, if that is the best learning environment for them. This is an IEP team decision.

Related services are services determined necessary for a child with a disability to access their education. These services may include: speech language services, audiology, interpreting services (for the deaf and hard of hearing), psychological services, physical and occupation therapy, orientation, and mobility (for the visually impaired), nursing services, and counseling/social work services. This is not a comprehensive list as there may be more allowed by law.

Exceptional Programs can help families by:

• Locating valuable resources in the community; • Identifying and evaluating student needs; • Transitional planning for the future.

Specialized programs that Exceptional Programs support: • The preschool classrooms at Enos Garcia Elementary and Ranchos Elementary provides both inclusive and/or pull-out services to meet each child’s nee ds. • In partnership with all other licensed preschool facilities in Taos County • Gifted programs K-12 • Chrysalis Alternative School – 9-12th • Los Brazos setting – Taos Middle School grades 6-8 • Transition Support and Job Training/Coaching • Child-Find (ages 3-21) to locate students in Taos

County in need of Special Education support • Extended School Year Services, also known as ESY

For more information about Exceptional Programs, you can contact our office at 575-737-6115. Lynn Brashar, Director of Exceptional Programs • Diane Horton, IEP Coordinator

To Be Announced – C to B and Child Find Coordinator

Danette Rael, Exceptional Programs Administrative Assistant and Financial Specialist

Christina Martinez, Medicaid Specialist