Learning Support Services

Learning Support Services

Pamela Lawrence, Director of Learning Support Services

Telephone: (810) 767-6134

Fax: (810) 760-6880

In keeping with state and federal laws, no child with a special need can be denied an education because of the nature or the severity of his or her disability. Learning Support Services serves students from birth to age 26, as required by these laws.

The department offers an assortment of mandated programs and services for students with disabilities. It provides full and individual evaluation by certified and highly qualified psychologists, social workers, speech therapists and other ancillary staff for any student who may have a disability.

School social workers direct interventions with students, families and the educational community and act as advocates for students with special needs.

School psychologists are trained to administer psychological tests, interpret the results and make recommendations regarding eligibility for programs and services. They are instrumental in suggesting interventions and providing assistance in monitoring progress for teachers and students.

MI-ACCESS is the alternate assessment program developed by the Michigan Department of Education to assess students with disabilities who require an alternate assessment and/or accommodation as determined by their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Continuum of Services provides a variety of programs and settings to meet the individual needs of eligible students. Special Education categories include: cognitive impairment, hearing impairment, early childhood developmental delays and emotional impairment.

Early Childhood Developmental Delay (ECDD)

Services are available for children from 2½ years of age through age 6, who are delayed 2½ times their chronological age in two areas of development.

Transition Planning

Transition planning is the process of preparing a student for the completion of his/her school program and moving into adulthood. This planning begins at age fourteen and continues until graduation.

Certified Classroom Teachers for Students with Disabilities

Highly qualified, certified teachers of students with disabilities provide both push-in and pull-out services to ensure that students receive specialized instruction, as well as access to the general education curriculum, in order to successfully progress towards meeting their IEP goals and objectives.

Each district must declare which process they will use to identify students with a specific learning disability. Flint Community Schools has chosen to use the Patterns of Strengths and Weakness to identify students with a Specific Learning Disability. The Michigan Department of Education has issued further guidance through the OSEP 11-07 memo.

Our Beliefs

• The education of all students, including those with disabilities, is the shared responsibility of the educational community, families and students.
• Qualified staff are held accountable for maintaining high expectations for all students, including those with disabilities.
• Our focus is on improved outcomes for all students and on increased capacity for both general and special education to meet the individual teaching and learning needs for learners with diverse needs.

Our Mission

To provide specialized instruction and/or services in the least restrictive environment, with improved academic/behavioral/post-secondary student outcomes and fiscal responsibility.

Our Goals

To increase the number of students with disabilities spending 80% of their day in the general education classroom.