Services

          BIRTH AGE - 36 MONTHS    

Goddard Special Education Cooperative supports Rainbows United in Sedgwick County. This community agency provides support services to young children who have been identified as having a developmental delay or a disability. Referrals can be made by parents or through community daycare providers and/or physicians. Children who continue to have developmental delays or a disability transition to a school within the Goddard Special Education Cooperative at age 3.

    AGES 36 MONTHS - 5 YEARS    

Goddard Special Education early childhood program offers a range of services characterized by a transdisciplinary, play-based approach. Children with special needs who qualify for services begin preschool services on their third birthday. Decisions for service and placement are made by the Individual Education Program (IEP) team, which includes school staff and the parents/guardians.

Services could include therapies on an appointment basis, service provision in a community setting, and services in an Early Childhood Special Education classroom.  Specialized Early Childhood Special Education classes designed for young children are also available for those children whose needs cannot be met in other early childhood classrooms.

    GRADES K-12    

Students in elementary, middle and high school receive the educational supports they need based on their IEP. Each student's IEP team determines which services are necessary for the student to achieve the IEP goals which will allow them access to the general education curriculum.

    AGES 18-21    

Goddard’s Special Education Cooperative TIES program provides services to students who are not ready to transition to a post-school environment. While in the program, students continue transition activities that prepare them to live and work in the community. These young adults develop employment skills and may be involved in recreation and leisure activities, community college classes and volunteer projects.

     TRANSITION SERVICES    

Transition services are available for students age 14 - 21. Services focus on post-school outcomes so that students with disabilities are prepared to lead productive and independent adult lives. Goddard Special Education Cooperative conducts transition assessment(s) and planning as students prepare to move from school to adult living. In order to facilitate a successful transition for students with disability-based IEPs, staff in the Goddard Special Education Cooperative work with IEP teams, students and families to:

• Identify students' needs and areas of strengths, interests, and preferences by conducting transition assessment activities.
• Use a variety of assessment data for effective transition IEP planning and goal development.
• Support instruction designed to promote independence through the development of self-advocacy, self-determination, appropriate social and behavior skills, as well as other essential adult life skills.
• Implement instruction and/or training for staff, students and parents related to best practices for transition knowledge and skills.
• Facilitate enrollment in appropriate transition programs and area vocational technical programs.
• Facilitate transition into the district's 18-21 program for students age 18-21 who have completed high school graduation requirements but continue to demonstrate a need for ongoing transition support. (The student's IEP team determines eligibility and placement).
• Advocate for and provide current information and links to numerous adult services and supports that help students reach their desired post-secondary outcomes.

Link to Checklist for Successful Transition Planning

    EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR    

Students between the ages of 3 and 21 with disability-based IEPs may be eligible for Extended School Year (ESY) services through the Special Education Department. The decision for extending services into the summer or other lengthy school breaks is made by the IEP team.

The majority of students who attend ESY work on maintaining skills that the student has developed during the school year. For these students, the team must consider data that indicates the student would lose skills that could not be regained within a reasonable time period upon returning to school without extended services.

The majority of students who are eligible for Extended School Year attend during the summer months. The service each student receives is individualized and is based on IEP goals that have been attained during the regular school calendar. Related services such as speech and occupational therapy may be continued through Extended School Year based on the decision of the IEP team.

Transportation to and from the student's home will be provided. Accommodations that are provided throughout the school year will be continued during ESY transportation.