Special Education
Fairbury Public Schools provides a variety of special education services to eligible students with disabilities in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Nebraska Rule 51. Special education services are individualized to meet each student's unique educational needs and are determined by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team.
Services may include early intervention services for children from birth to age three, preschool special education services for children ages three to five, school-based services for students attending elementary, intermediate, and junior-senior high school, and services for eligible students attending nonpublic schools. Transition planning and services are provided to help students aged 14-21 to help prepare for life after high school.
Our goal is to provide students with disabilities the individualized instruction, services, and support they need to be successful in school, at home, and in their communities.
If you suspect your child has a disability, please contact Anne Chappell, Director of Special Education, at 402-729-6104 to discuss the special education referral and evaluation process.
Parents and guardians of children with disabilities have specific rights under IDEA and Nebraska Rule 51. These rights and procedural safeguards are outlined in the Nebraska Department of Education's Parental Rights in Special Education brochures:
Who May Qualify?
Students may qualify for special education services under one or more of the disability categories recognized by Nebraska Rule 51:
- Autism
- Deaf-Blindness
- Developmental Delay
- Emotional Disturbance
- Hearing Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other Health Impairment
- Specific Learning Disability
- Speech-Language Impairment
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairment
Eligibility is determined through a multidisciplinary evaluation that considers whether the student meets the criteria for a disability and requires special education services.
How Are Students Identified?
Parents, guardians, teachers, or other school personnel may raise concerns regarding a student's development or educational progress.
Fairbury Public Schools uses a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to identify student needs and provide research-based academic, behavioral, and social-emotional interventions. Student Assistance Teams (SAT) and the MTSS teams may review student progress and recommend additional interventions or supports.
When concerns persist or available information suggests a student may have a disability requiring special education services, the team may consider a referral for a special education evaluation. MTSS interventions may continue during the evaluation process but are not required to be completed before an evaluation can be initiated.
Before conducting an initial evaluation, the district must obtain informed parental consent. A multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluates the student to determine whether the student meets eligibility criteria for special education.
Students receiving special education services are reevaluated at least once every three years unless the parent and district agree that a reevaluation is unnecessary. Reevaluations may include new assessments, a review of existing information, or a combination of both. Parental consent is generally required before conducting new assessments, but is not required solely to review existing data.
Individualized Education Program (IEP)
Once a student is determined eligible for special education services, an IEP team, including the parent or guardian, meets to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
The IEP outlines the student's educational needs, annual goals, specially designed instruction, related services, accommodations, and other supports necessary for the student to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
An initial IEP must be developed within 30 calendar days of the eligibility determination. Written parental consent must be obtained before special education and related services are provided for the first time.
The IEP team meets at least annually to review the student's progress and update the plan. Additional meetings may be scheduled when needed. Parents receive a copy of the IEP at no cost.
Special Education Services
Special education services are individualized based on each student's educational needs, as determined by the IEP team.
Fairbury Public Schools is committed to educating students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE). To the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities are educated alongside their peers without disabilities.
Removal from the general education environment occurs only when the nature or severity of a student's disability is such that education in general education classes, with supplementary aids and services, cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
Parents are active members of the IEP team and participate in decisions regarding their child's educational programming, services, and placement.
The district provides prior written notice when proposing or refusing to initiate or change a student's identification, evaluation, educational placement, or provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE).
Related Services and Specialized Supports
Fairbury Public Schools collaborates with Educational Service Unit 5 (ESU 5) and other service providers to support students with disabilities.
Depending on individual student needs and district service arrangements, services and supports may include:
- Speech-language therapy
- Occupational therapy (OT)
- Physical therapy (PT)
- Deaf and hard-of-hearing services
- Vision services
- School psychological services
- Behavioral consultation and support
- Early childhood special education and early intervention
- Transition planning and support
- Other related services as determined by the IEP team
Related services are provided when necessary to assist a student in benefiting from special education.
For additional information about special education services, please contact:
Anne Chappell
Director of Special Education
Fairbury Public Schools
402-729-6104