Special Education

Specially designed instruction (IDEA)

Special Education Team Roles (MDE)

IEP Fact Sheet (MDE)

Initial Evaluation Fact Sheet (MDE)

Special Education Process Fact Sheet (MDE)

MDE Procedural Safeguards

MDE Family Matters

Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE)

MDE Due Process Procedures

Early On Michigan

Determination of Eligibility for Michigan Mandatory Special Education for Infants and Toddlers, Birth to Age Three Introduction (MDE)

 Determination of Specific Learning Disability
MDE Requirement for Local Plan of SLD Determination

In May 2010, the Michigan Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services under the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) published “Michigan Criteria for Determining the Existence of a Specific Learning Disability” (hereafter referred to as MDE Criteria Document for SLD). This document issued the following requirement of local school districts.

On or before September 1, 2010, each local educational agency (LEA) and public school academy (PSA) must publicly post on their web site, or make public through other means, the process or combination of processes which will be used by the LEA or PSA to determine the existence of a SLD. (§ 300.307(b) and § 300.600(d)(2)).

This requirement greatly reduces the previous reliance on use of “severe discrepancy” formulas and requires consideration of a Response to Intervention (RtI) model for identifying students with specific learning disabilities as an alternative to the discrepancy model.

In part, federal regulation § 300.307(a) of IDEA states:

(a) A State must adopt … criteria for determining whether a child has a SLD . . . In addition, the criteria adopted by the State

(1) Must not require the use of severe discrepancy between intellectual ability and achievement for determining whether a child has a SLD . . .

(2) Must permit the use of a process based on the child’s response to scientific, research-based intervention; . . .

Local Statement of Plan Adoption

1. The student does not achieve adequately for the student’s age or to meet State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR §300.309 (a)(1)(i) when provided with learning experiences and instruction appropriate for the student’s age or State-approved grade-level standards; and
2. The student exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement, or both, relative to age, State approved grade-level standards and intellectual development, that is determined by the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team MET) to be relevant to the identification of SLD, using appropriate assessments, consistent with the IDEA Evaluation Procedures and Additional Requirements for Evaluations and Reevaluations.

Additional information can be found at the Michigan Department of Education through the following link.

Michigan Criteria for Determining the
Existence of a Specific Learning Disability

A student must be evaluated for special education and determined eligible in order to receive special education programs and services.

A multidisciplinary evaluation team (MET) evaluates students for suspected disabilities. The MET includes specialists with knowledge of the suspected disabilities. The Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) outline the specialists needed for each suspected disability.

Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE) With Related IDEA Federal Regulations

Evaluations and Eligibility

Guidance for Timeline for Initial Evaluations

Novi Community School District works collaboratively with the Oakland Schools Special Populations Department and other districts within Oakland County when student needs are not able to be addressed through programming located in the district.

All programs for students with disabilities in Oakland County are designed and operated by local districts, including center programs for students with the most significant needs.

Decisions regarding placement of students is individualized.  For questions regarding center-based programming options, contact the special education department at (248) 449-1413.