Seattle Public Schools provides a wide range of programs and services for students with disabilities from the ages of 3 to 21. These include:

Self-contained preschools: These programs are two-and-one-half hours each day and are located in selected elementary schools throughout Seattle Public Schools. Preschool is offered Monday-Thursday with both morning and afternoon sessions. There are also some preschools that focus on particular types of student needs, such as programs for children with autism; deafness or hearing impairment; multiple handicaps; medical fragility; and social/emotional issues. Although certain classrooms focus on particular disability issues, all preschool programs serve children with a variety of disabilities.

Itinerant services: Eligible preschool-age students who are fairly independent and attend community preschools, co-ops, childcare centers, and Head Start programs may receive the services of special educators and therapists at those sites. Itinerant special educators serve preschoolers who have delays in pre-academic, social/emotional, and adaptive skills.

Blended Head Starts and Kindergartens: Blended programs enroll both children with and without disabilities. These classrooms are appropriate for children with disabilities who are fairly independent in general education settings but also need specially designed instruction to support their disability.

Transitional Kindergartens (TKs): These programs are for children who are not yet ready to attend kindergarten. Most students who attend TK programs go on to either general education kindergartens with resource room support or into K-2 self-contained special education programs, as recommended by their IEP (Individualized Education Program) teams.

Resource room programs: Students with disabilities being served in resource rooms typically have a learning disability in one or more of the following areas: reading, writing, or math. Special education teachers in these programs may also address mild social or behavioral issues. Models of service delivery vary across school buildings. Some teachers may take students out of their general education classrooms to teach them in smaller groups, while others may work with students in class. Many special education teachers in resource rooms work with students in both settings.

Self-contained programs: Some children require an alternate placement from the general education setting in order to engage in specially designed instruction that is individually tailored to meet their specific needs for a large portion of the school day. Special education teachers facilitate opportunities for students in their programs to participate with typically developing peers whenever appropriate.

Related services: Many students with disabilities are eligible for speech and language services, motor development therapy, vision services, hearing services, and assistive technology services when appropriate.

Updated August 3, 2006