Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to be eligible for special education and related services, a student must meet the federal definition of a disability. There are specific categories of disability under IDEA. Special education and related services will be made available to all eligible students ages 3 – 21 (services will be made available to eligible students on their third birthday). Children who have been identified as having a hearing or visual impairment are eligible for special education services at birth.

McKinney ISD’s Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) provides individualized educational programming for children ages 3 to 5 that promotes positive social/emotional development, early language, communication and literacy skills, and appropriate behaviors. ECSE offers a full continuum of instructional settings in which student needs are addressed by specially trained staff. The services and instructional settings offered include:

Preschool Speech Program (PSP)

PSP is a preschool program for students who exhibit expressive language and/or phonological disorders and is taught by a licensed speech pathologist with the help of an instructional assistant. Instruction occurs in the naturalistic setting of a classroom and developmentally appropriate play centers.

Special Education Classrooms

This instructional setting is for students who demonstrate significant delays in one or more areas of development. These classes are taught by a certified special education teacher with the help of an instructional aide. Inclusion with age appropriate peers is encouraged and is determined by the student’s ARD committee.

Resource Program

Resource classes are instructional arrangements that provide special education services to students in a setting other than general education. Students receive most of their instruction in the general education classroom. Resource instruction is designed to be intensive, accelerated, and individualized based upon the student’s IEP goals and objectives and is aligned with the student’s enrolled grade level TEKS. Instruction may be provided in the areas of language arts, math, and/or reading. Resource instruction is targeted to remediate skill deficits and not to replace core content. Resource programs are located on all MISD campuses.

Developmental Social Skills Program (DSSC)

The Developmental Social Skills Class (DSSC) is a centralized, instructional arrangement that specifically addresses the emotional and behavioral needs of students as well as their academic needs. The students are provided with a highly structured and predictable learning environment based on an individualized level system that reinforces positive behavior and helps facilitate transition back to resource and/or general education classes. Students who are experiencing behavioral difficulties in the school environment are provided with positive behavioral interventions, social skills training, and instructional time within a classroom setting for the purpose of increasing appropriate behaviors and academic achievement. DSSC programs are located on several general education campuses throughout the District. Placement in the DSSC Program is determined by the student’s ARD committee.

Functional Academic Class (FAC)

The Functional Academics Class (FAC) is a centralized, instructional arrangement providing special education and related services to students with mild to moderate cognitive impairments. Emphasis is on basic academic skills with vocational skills included at the secondary level. An individual education plan is developed for every student based on that student’s academic abilities, cognitive skills, and social skills. Instruction is provided in both individual and small group settings. Students have the opportunity to participate in many academic and non-academic activities with their non-disabled peers. The FAC Program provides an appropriate educational environment that is integrated, student centered, and functional. FAC programs are located on several general education campuses throughout the District. Placement in the FAC Program is determined by the student’s ARD committee.

Active Learning Classroom (ALC)

The Active Learning Classroom is a centralized, self-contained instructional arrangement that strives to prepare students to live independently and to be active participants in their community. Classrooms are specifically designed to accommodate the disabilities of the students. Communication is delivered in a variety of modalities, and students have various methods to communicate their needs. (e.g., verbalization, picture symbols, sign language, gesturing, and voice output devices).

Daily activities are aligned with specific IEP goals and objectives and are designed to generalize to the school and surrounding community. Assistive technology and/or augmentative communication devices are integrated throughout the school day depending on individual student’s needs. Inclusion in age appropriate regular education classrooms allows students to be visible and productive members of their school communities. Functional and independent living skills are emphasized throughout the program at every grade level. ALC programs are located on several general education campuses throughout the District. Placement in the ALC Program is determined by the student’s ARD committee.

Structured Teaching Class (STC)

The Structured Teaching Class (STC) is a centralized, instructional arrangement designed to meet the needs of students who have characteristics associated with autism. STC provides a high degree of structure and systematic use of a variety of research based interventions to enhance instruction, develop communication skills, and manage student behavior. Students have the opportunity to participate in many academic and non-academic activities with their non-disabled peers. STC classes are located on several general education campuses throughout the District. Placement in the STC Program is determined by the student’s ARD committee.