Teacher on floor with students

Choosing a School

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    Special Education in Saint Paul Public Schools recognizes the importance of designing an educational experience to meet the unique needs of each student from birth to age 21.
     
    If your child is in a Special Education program and is in a resource program:
    • You can apply and receive transportation if accepted to any school in your Area. Use the School Finder tool on our website to find a school in your Area.
    • You can apply to a school outside of your Area, however, you will have to provide your own transportation.
    • You can apply to a district magnet and are eligible to receive transportation.
    What is a Resource Model? 
    A Resource Model is applied to all special education disabilities. It is when a student is in both general education and in special education. Resource Models apply to students who have been designated a Federal Setting I or a Federal Setting II.
    A Specialized Program is applied primarily to ASD (Austim Spectrum Disorder), DCD (Developmental Cognitively Delayed) and EBD (Emotional/Behavioral Disorder) special education disability areas. Students might have another primary disability; however the Specialized Program is when a student needs the majority of their day in a Specialized Program within special education. Specialized Programs apply to students who have been designated a Federal Setting III.

    Every child eligible for special education services has an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP team, which includes parents, focuses on helping each student develop the academic, functional and social skills they need to become as self-sufficient as possible.

    For all families in special education, transportation will be provided to the area programs. If the parent chooses to go outside of their area, transportation will be required by the parents.

    If your child is in a specialized program, you will have a designated program location within you Area. See the Special Education Parent Guide for more information on what services are available in your area. Parents who want to choose a specialized program outside of their Area, can do so through the application process. The parent will need to contact the Special Education department requesting their choice for an out-of-area specialized program. The Special Education department will work with theStudent Placement Center to determine if both the Special Education and General Education programs requested have spaces available. The parent also has to agree to transport their student to the new program if accepted. 

    Finally, if your child is in a specialized program you will have a designated program for your community area. Parents who want to choose a specialized program outside of their area, can do so through the application process. The parent will need to contact the special education department requesting that their choice for an out-of-area specialized program. The special education department will work with the placement office to determine if the specialized program has available spaces and the general education classroom has available space. The parent also has to agree to transport their student to the new program if accepted.

    What is a Specialized Program? 

    For more information on resource and specialized programs, click here.