Special Education

Academic success for all students.

What is Special Education?

Special education is instruction, specific to the child, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. It is important to note: Students with disabilities are general education students first. They receive special education support services in conjunction with the general education curriculum. Special education is an instructional service, not a replacement for general education curriculum.

Every student receiving special education services will progress at his or her own individual rate. Our special education services are reasonably calculated to allow your student to benefit from instruction in their areas of need. A student who has a disability will always have the disability and would not be expected to progress in all areas at the same rate as his/her regular education peers. Our mission is to create individualized goals for students receiving special education services to ensure they are still progressing at their own pace.

Special Education is Not:

Tutoring in regular education courses.
An assurance that students will pass regular classes.
Special education is not a cure. It assists in removing barriers caused by the disability but does not remove the disability.
Rehabilitation for a physical disability.

For more information on special education, visit Minnesota Department of Education page.

Special education services are offered throughout the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District as part of Benton-Stearns Education District (BSED). Once a child has been referred for special education services and has qualified under one of the categorical disability areas, they are eligible to receive services based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP). This process begins with your student’s teacher.

Main Contact

Sandra Haller
Special Education Coordinator
Phone: 320-253-4703
Email: sandra.haller@isd47.org

Erin Dohrmann
Executive Director, Benton Stearns Education District
Phone: 320-257-7348
Email: edohrmann@bentonstearns.k12.mn.us

Qualifying for Special Education Services

A child must have a disability to qualify for our special education services. A disability is defined as a lifelong handicapping condition often associated with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, including education.

Your student must meet state eligibility criteria in one or more of the following areas:

Speech or language Impairment
Developmental cognitive disability: Mild-Moderate
Developmental cognitive disability: Severe-Profound
Physical impairment
Deaf/Hard of hearing
Visual impairment
Specific Learning Disability
Emotional or behavioral disorder
Deaf-blindness
Other health disability
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Developmental delay (birth–age 7)
Traumatic brain injury
Severe multiple impairments

Below average academic performance alone does not qualify a student for special education.

Click here for Minnesota Department of Education's Categorical Disabilities information.

New Families to the District

For new families moving into the district, please be sure to inform the school of your child’s special education status so the school team can assist with providing adequate services.

If you have a child in our district and feel they may be in need of special education services, please work with your child’s homeroom or classroom teacher to learn more about the referral process.

For information on services available, please contact Sandra Haller, Special Education Coordinator at 320-253-5257.

Requesting an Evaluation for Home Schooled or Private School Students

In response to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Minnesota must demonstrate that “all children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services, are identified, located, and evaluated.” This responsibility extends to children with disabilities who are educated at home or in non-public schools.

Upon request, we will provide information to concerned parents on specific disabilities including information about the educational or behavioral characteristics of each disability. If you believe your child may indeed have a disability, you may request information on how to arrange for an evaluation through our special education staff. Sandra Haller, Sauk Rapids-Rice Special Education Coordinator, is available to take these requests and answer any questions you may have. You can call her at 320-253-4703 or email her at sandra.haller@isd47.org.

If your student is evaluated and found to be eligible for special education services, you will become part of our team. Together, we will develop, implement and monitor the effectiveness of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to meet your students identified needs.

If your child is between birth and the age of three, contact Benton-Stearns Education District directly at 320-252-8427 for more information.

What to Expect if Your Child Receives Special Education Services

An evaluation will be performed to document the existence of a disability and determine your child's areas of need such as reading, math and written language. We work with parents to write goals and identify the areas to improve. These goals will be written on a document called an Individual Educational Program (IEP)/ Interagency Individual Intervention Plan (IIIP). Specialized instruction may be provided in the areas of need.

Special education areas of need may include:

Reading
Writing
Math skills
Social skills
Self-help skills
Motor skills
Transition skills
Communication
Organizational skills

Related services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, DAPE, etc. are only provided if it is determined your child would not be able to meet their instructional goals without this service. Related services cannot be provided unless the student is already receiving a special education service in a disability area, such as a learning disability.

We invite and encourage parents to participate as a team member in decisions regarding their child's special education program. Your child will receive instruction that has been individualized to meet the specific needs of your child. Special education instructors coordinate with regular education teachers to provide the appropriate accommodations and modifications for your child within the regular education setting. These modifications and accommodations include things as highlighted textbooks, shortened assignments, class notes, and other aids to assist students to succeed in school.

Additional Parent Resources

Parents of Children Birth to Age 5

If your child is birth to age 5, use this referral source to Help Me Grow. You can find information about developmental milestones, encouraging healthy development and getting help for your child if you have developmental concerns.

Help Me Grow is an interagency initiative of the State of Minnesota (Department of Education, Department of Health, and Department of Human Services) partnering with all local service agencies.