Specialized Services

The Madison District Public Schools Special Education Department offers a continuum of programs and services designed to meet the needs of eligible students with disabilities.   Our Highly Qualified Special Education Staff are dedicated to addressing a wide range of needs.  In the Madison District Public Schools, our students are included in the general education classroom as much as possible and to the extent appropriate for each student.  The continuum of special education services may include ancillary support services, classroom support services, and direct instruction.  While the Madison District Public Schools honors educating students in the least restrictive educational setting, the appropriateness of the educational setting is a placement decision that is made during an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting and is based on individual student needs and desired outcomes.  In the Madison District Public Schools, special education services may be provided in the student's home, another building or location within the district, or through attendance at a county center program.  

For more information, please visit the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).

The Student Study Team (SST) is a data and observation driven academic and behavioral problem-solving process that may be used by teachers and parents to assist students who present with academic and/or behavioral concerns.  The teams exist in all of our school buildings.  During our SST meetings, student-specific learning and behavioral challenges are identified, and interventions are decided on for implementation.  The SST reconvenes on a regular basis to review the results of the interventions.  Throughout the process, parents are informed of the concerns and progress.

Madison District Public Schools has an obligation under The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) to engage in “child find” activities to identify, locate, and evaluate students who are suspected of having an educational disability under IDEA and consistent with the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE).  The Madison District Public Schools informs the community of its “child find” activities through regular information sharing through the individual schools, through the district webpage, and through posters in school offices.  Madison District Public Schools works closely with the Oakland Schools Early-On referral process when evaluating infants and toddlers aged birth to three (3) years.  For the typical school-aged students, if there is a reason to suspect a student has a disability, teachers are required to use the student study team (SST) process to recommend an evaluation.  Parents are encouraged to adhere to the referral process as well.  In some instances, the SST process may be bypassed.  In all evaluation instances, parental consent for evaluation is required.  Once the evaluation process is completed, an IEP meeting is scheduled to review evaluation results and to determine whether the student meets the Michigan eligible criteria for special education programs and/or services under MARSE. Decisions on student's need for programs, services, and/or placement are discussed and decided upon at the IEP meeting. Parents are an integral part of the IEP meeting and planning process.  

Referrals for special education can be made directly to the teacher or counselor where academic and/or behavioral concerns can be discussed and intervention ideas developed to resolve the presenting concern. Additionally, the building principal can be an appropriate resource.  It may be appropriate to convene a TAT meeting to address your concerns.  Intervention may be initiated and may resolve your concerns prior to referral for special education evaluation. Lastly, you can contact the Student Services Department if you have any specific concerns or questions regarding evaluations under IDEA.

Procedural Safeguards Notice - Michigan Department of Education

Infant & Toddler Evaluations

For evaluations of infants and toddlers (0-3) call:

Early On Oakland
Local Phone:  248-209-2084
Toll-Free:  866-456-2084

K-12 Student Evaluations

For evaluations of K-12 students, call:

Office: 248-399-7800
Fax:  248-399-4700 

Within the Madison District Public Schools, our elementary, middle, and high schools have a continuum of programs and services for students that qualify for special education. The Madison District Public Schools offers special education programs and services for students aged Birth to 3 years, 3 to 5 years, and in Kindergarten through 12th grade.   Within these programs, support is provided to students that have any of the primary handicapping conditions as defined by IDEA and MARSE, and include: Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Physical Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Speech and Language Impairment, Early Childhood Development Delay, Specific Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Early On

Early On is an Early Childhood Early-Intervention service provided to the families of children from birth to three (3) years of age who are eligible for services due to a developmental delay, or are at risk of developmental delay due to a medical condition, or who have a disability.  These services are provided in the natural environment and focus on the home environment, developing communication, mobility, and social skills. Beginning with 2 years, 3 months of age, the Early Intervention team must begin considering the needs of the student and plan for the transition of needed services after the student turns 3 years old.  The transition meeting must occur prior to the student's third birthday, but not earlier than 2 years, 6 months.  Students with eligibility under Early-On who require continued programming are referred to our Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program. Alternatively, ECSE services are provided on a walk-in basis to students who continue to meet eligibility criteria but do not require placement in the ECSE program.

School Aged Students

For school-aged students at all levels, Madison District Public Schools offers resource programs that serve students with a variety of disabilities including Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Physical Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Speech and Language Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Traumatic Brain Injury.

The Madison District Public Schools provides a wide range of services within the district that meet the individual needs of eligible students.  These services include: Early Intervention, Speech, and Language Therapy, School Psychology Services, School Social Work Services, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, School Nurse, and Homebound/Hospitalized Services.  Transportation is provided to eligible students as indicated in the IEP. Beginning at age 16, Transition plans and services are developed for all eligible students.  Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans are conducted by the IEP team on students at all levels whose behaviors interfere with learning and the learning of others.  The IEP process identifies the appropriate special education services. 

On occasion, there are a few students who have what is considered to be a “low incidence disability” and require placement in specialized Center Based programs.  These may include placement in Severe Cognitive Impairment (SCI), Severe Multiple Impairment (SXI), Severe Emotional Impairment (SEI), Hearing Impairment (HI), Visual Impairment (VI), Physical Impairment (PI), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) programs. Specialized programs in Oakland County can meet the needs identified through the IEP process. 

The Madison District Public Schools adheres to the Oakland Schools model of providing services along with a continuum based on identified student needs in Center-Based Programs in either integrated facilities with opportunities for students to be integrated into the school setting or in segregated facilities with no opportunity for integration.  Placement in specialized programs is coordinated through Oakland Schools.  The resident district, Oakland Schools, and the district that operates the program must agree on the placement. These decisions are made in an IEP process following a review and deliberation on identified student needs and with regards to student safety and dignity.  Approximately 91% of eligible students with IEPs, receive services in the Madison District Public Schools.  Less than 2% of eligible students with IEPs attend schools in Center-Based programs in neighboring districts within Oakland County. Approximately 7% receive highly specialized programs that are designed to meet their specific transition needs in a Post Secondary setting. 

The Madison District Public School is a constituent district of the Oakland Intermediate School District.  Oakland Schools provides a variety of services to districts, parents, staff, and students.  The Student Support Center at Oakland Schools provides supports through itinerant teacher consultants who provide services to students with Hearing Impairment including Audiological services, Vision Impairment including Orientation and Mobility training, and Assistive Technology Services including Augmentative Communication Supports.  Requests for supports and services must be processed through the Special Education Department and in coordination with the Madison District Public Schools special education staff.  Requests for support must be accompanied by supporting documentation.

Oakland Schools

/downloads/specialized_services/doc00420020230602145022.pdf

MADISON SCHOOLS SPECIAL SERVICES PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC)

Did you know that the Madison School District has a parent support group for parents of children receiving special education support through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504?  This parent group, called PAC (Parent Advisory Committee), is made up of volunteers whose children also receive special education support in the district from birth through 26 years of age.

WHAT PAC REPRESENTATIVES DO FOR YOU:

Answer questions about special education

Offer support and resources related to your concerns

Guide you when you feel lost, confused or frustrated.  We have been there too and can help

HOW TO CONTACT A PAC REPRESENTATIVE:

Michele Kelley, michelehawins922@hotmail.com-248-909-1031

Erica Walker, ericavw6@gmail.com

WHAT PAC REPRESENTATIVES DO:

Plan meetings on topics that interest parents

Plan events like Back to School Resource Fair 

Help families in the district with questions and concerns

Pass along Special Education information to families, school leaders and your school’s PTA

Publicize upcoming Special Services PAC events in school newsletters and social media

WE ARE WORKING ON ADDING INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

COMING:  Facebook: Madison Schools Special Needs PAC

COMING:  Madison Schools web page will be adding a drop-down with information

INTEREST IN HELPING?

If you would like to help or if you would like more information about PAC you can reach out to Special Education Director Aaron Ondra at aaron.ondra@madisondistrict.org