The West Bend School District provides education to students ages 3-21 eligible under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) through a continuum of district services and supports. Specialized instruction and support occurs in all school environments. Instructional location decisions are made based upon individual student strengths and areas of need during Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings with parents and educators.
Special Education is the practice of educating students in a manner designed specifically to their individual differences based on an area of impairment and a need for special education.
This process utilizes an Individual Education Plan (IEP) which is a monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials, accessible settings, and other interventions designed to help learners with an impairment achieve success.
Please contact your building principal if you have questions or would like to discuss a special education referral for your child. Please also complete the Special Education Referral Form.
504 Plan
Some students with learning issues don’t need special education or individualized instruction (and an IEP), however they might still need support or accommodations for learning. A 504 plan documents the support the school will provide which allow the student equal access to the general education curriculum.
If you’d like more information about 504 plans, please contact your building principal and complete the 504 Referral Form.
Section 504: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act are federal laws that address the rights of individuals with disabilities. IDEA is a federal funding statute that provides limited financial aid to states to ensure adequate and appropriate services for children with disabilities. Section 504 is a broad civil rights law that protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990 and extends the prohibition of discrimination established by Section 504 to entities that do not receive federal financial assistance. Specifically, Title II of the ADA protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in the services, programs, or activities of all state and local governments. Eligibility for a Section 504 accommodation plan is determined following an evaluation. Please contact your student’s school psychologist regarding Section 504 plans.
