Special Education Services:

The purpose of the Department of Special Education Services is to provide specialized instructional services, related services, and supplementary aids and services to students suspected of or identified as having disabilities. In compliance with state and federal regulations, these disabilities adversely affect educational performance and result in a need for special education and related services.

Barbour County Schools is committed to enhancing alternate assessment and individualized education program (IEP) practices to ensure the participation of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. We have implemented clear eligibility criteria in collaboration with special education professionals and experts to define and refine these criteria based on current research and best practices, focusing on the development of comprehensive and individualized IEPs. Our educators receive ongoing professional development to stay abreast of the latest research and best practices, and we actively involve parents in the IEP development process.

Child Find:

Child Find, an integral component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), mandates that states actively identify, locate, and assess all children with disabilities, aged birth to 21, who require early intervention or special education services. The Barbour County School District is dedicated to extending educational opportunities to all exceptional children through special programs tailored for Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Developmental Delay, Emotional Disability, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Visual Impairment. The district employs a continuous process of public awareness initiatives, screening, and evaluation to proactively locate, identify, and refer children with disabilities as early as possible. Before exceptional children can receive assistance, they must be identified, and educational plans must be established. If you reside in Barbour County and have a child with exceptional needs or are aware of such a child not attending school, please contact 334-775-3453 ext. 1013.