The Office of Special Education provides leadership and support to the school community through quality special education services, alternative school programs, and student services so that all students achieve high academic standards. If you would like more information regarding Special Education services, please contact (401) 727-6430.

Special Education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including:

• instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in the hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and

• instruction in physical education.

The term [also] includes each of the following if it meets the requirements above:

• Speech/language pathology services for students through eight years of age (up to the ninth birthday)

• Travel training; and

• Vocational education.

Eligibility

• A student is eligible for special education if all three of the following is true:

• The student has one or more disabilities

• The student is not making effective progress in school as a result of the disability/disabilities.

• The student requires special education in order to make effective progress.

Accommodations
The provisions made in how a student accesses/demonstrates learning. They do not substantially change instructional level or content. Accommodations provide students an equal access to learning and equal opportunity to demonstrate what is known. They are based on individual strengths and needs and may vary in intensity and degree.

Modifications

The changes in what a student is expected to learn and demonstrate. They change the instructional level or benchmark and may vary content as well. Modifications affect the number of key concepts mastered within a benchmark or unit of study.