Pupil Services/Special Education

 

Merrill Area Public Schools Special Education Department provides services for students who are identified with a disability. Students who are suspected of having a disability are referred for an evaluation to determine if they have a special need in one of the following areas.

• Autism

• Blind and Visually Impaired

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Deaf and Blind

• Emotional Behavioral Disability

• Intellectual Disability

• Orthopedic Impairment

• Other Health Impairment

• Significant Developmental Delay

• Specific Learning Disabilities

• Speech and Language

• Traumatic Brain Injury

If a student is determined to have a disability and needs special education services to access their education through the evaluation process, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed to identify goals, objectives, support and related services they require to benefit from the educational process. Following the development of the IEP, an appropriate educational placement will be determined and offered to parents/guardians. The parents are an integral part of the IEP process and IEP team.

Special Education (Child Find)

Upon request, the Merrill Area Public Schools is required to evaluate a child for eligibility for special education services. A request for evaluation is known as a referral. When the district receives a referral, the district will appoint an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team to determine if the child has a disability, and if the child needs special education services. The district locates, identifies, and evaluates all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private (including religious) schools, elementary schools and secondary schools located in the school district.

A physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker, or administrator of a social agency who reasonably believes a child brought to him or her for services is a child with a disability has a legal duty to refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parent that the referral will be made.

Others, including parents, who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child, including a homeless child, to the school district in which the child resides.

Referrals must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. A referral may be made by contacting Amber Haluska, Director of Pupil Services and Special Education, Merrill Area Public Schools at 715-536-4581 ext. 10008 or by email at amber.haluska@mapsedu.org

Informational Dyslexia Guidebook

The informational dyslexia guidebook required by 2019 Wisconsin Act 86 is online here. The guidebook was created through collaboration between the advisory committee, as outlined in Act 86, and DPI. Per Act 86, the informational guidebook discusses screening, instruction and intervention, and resources that can support improved learning for school-aged individuals with characteristics of dyslexia. The audience for the information is broad and includes but is not limited to parents and families, educators, interventionists or reading teachers, and educational leaders. Each school district is required to include a link to the Informational Guidebook on dyslexia and related conditions.