Goodhue County Education District: Transforming Lives Through Individualized Education and Comprehensive Support
The Goodhue County Education District (GCED) is dedicated to transforming lives through individualized education and comprehensive support, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed on their unique journey. GCED achieves this by partnering with local school districts, providing specialized programs, and equipping educators with the tools they need to make a lasting difference.
A Strong Foundation: Partnerships and Commitment
GCED collaborates with six school districts: Cannon Falls Area Schools, Goodhue Public Schools, Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools, Lake City Public Schools, Red Wing Public Schools, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa Schools. This strong partnership puts student needs at the center of all that GCED does, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
GCED is committed to supporting both students and educators in meaningful, lasting ways, building a strong foundation for student success by equipping educators with the tools, training, and collaboration they need to make a difference. The administration values, supports, and appreciates the work done with students, providing supplies, resources, and continuing education. The teams at GCED are known for being collaborative, and the caseloads are manageable, particularly compared to larger districts.
GCED approaches working with students uniquely, avoiding "cookie-cutter" solutions and meeting each student where they are. This individualized approach shapes teaching methods and the pursuit of ongoing education, striving to implement effective and culturally responsive support and instruction to empower students to succeed in learning and in life.
Alternative Learning Programs: Finding the Right Fit
Recognizing that every student's journey is unique, GCED offers a range of Alternative Learning Programs designed to provide flexible, personalized options to support academic growth, skill development, and future success. These programs cater to students who need a different learning environment, credit recovery, or real-world work experience.
Read also: Your Guide to Ocean County College
Pathways: A non-traditional academic and social development program designed for at-risk students, offering innovative and supportive learning experiences.
5RiversOnline (5RO): A fully accredited online learning program providing both full-time and part-time options for K-12 students seeking flexibility and high-quality education.
Credit Recovery: Designed to help students get back on track by completing required coursework in a supportive, structured environment.
Extended School Year (ESY): Additional learning opportunities beyond the traditional school year to support students who require continued academic or social-emotional development.
Targeted Services: Early intervention and academic support for elementary and middle school students who need extra help in building foundational skills.
Read also: Empowering Osceola County
Work-Based Learning: Hands-on, real-world job experiences that help students develop career skills and explore future employment opportunities.
GCED is committed to guiding students and families toward the best alternative learning pathway, ensuring that each student receives the support they need to thrive.
Early Childhood Programs: Nurturing Development from the Start
GCED offers a comprehensive suite of early childhood programs designed to support children's development from birth to kindergarten. These programs focus on early intervention, family education, and screening to ensure that children are ready for school.
Birth to 3 Early Intervention Program: This program serves children from birth to three years old who are experiencing developmental delays in one or more areas of development. The purpose of early intervention services is to address these delays, minimize their potential for more significant developmental delays, and enhance the capacity of families to meet the needs of their children. These services are individualized to meet the unique needs of each child and their family. Free developmental screenings and/or evaluations are available for parents who have concerns or questions about their child's development.
Early Childhood Special Education: Children over the age of three can access these services by calling their local elementary school or the Goodhue County Education District.
Read also: Working for Peach County Education
Learning Readiness Home Visits: An Early Childhood teacher visits with families and their child at home to monitor the child’s development and answer any questions parents may have.
Early Childhood Family Education Programs (Birth to K): Each district offers a variety of Early Childhood Family Education Programs for parents and children from birth to kindergarten entrance. These programs provide opportunities for parents and children to spend time together completing projects, playing, learning new songs, and listening to stories. Parents also have the opportunity to talk with a parent educator about child development, discipline, and other child-related topics.
Early Childhood Screening: This state-mandated program is offered through school districts for children who are three to five years old. Screening involves a careful check of a child's health, hearing, immunizations, vision, growth, speech/language, motor, cognitive development, and family factors. Screening is offered periodically throughout the school year, and all children are required by Minnesota State law to participate in an Early Childhood Screening program before entering public school kindergarten. Ideally, children should be screened between three and three and a half years old. During the screening appointment well-qualified staff will check a child's skills in thinking, communication, motor skills and social/emotional development.
Special Education Services: Meeting Diverse Needs
Since its inception, GCED has prioritized special education services to serve the diverse needs of students in its member districts. All students are eligible to receive special education services provided by or through GCED, with services determined by students' identified needs. The goal of GCED is to achieve the highest standards of excellence for students with disabilities, based upon their individual strengths and needs. Every student is provided with sound academic opportunities to facilitate their physical, emotional, social, and vocational potential. GCED is committed to providing demanding programs appropriate for all levels of ability and to implement this philosophy into practice for all students.
It is GCED's goal to serve every school-aged child with a disability who resides in its member districts, providing a full continuum of special education services for each individual student in the least restrictive environment. Each level of service is available for consideration by the Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) team for all eligible students.
REACH Program: A special education program serving students whose emotions or behaviors significantly impact their ability to make progress in a less restrictive setting. Students in the REACH program typically have average to above average cognitive ability and are aged 4 to grade 12.
STEP Program: A secondary transition program for students 18-21 years old who have successfully completed the requirements necessary for a high school diploma but are still making progress towards goals and objectives in the transition areas. This community-based program emphasizes employment and independent living skills and works in collaboration with students, families, and community agencies.
Continuum of Services and Resources
GCED provides a comprehensive continuum of services and resources to support students with disabilities, including:
Itinerant Instruction: Students requiring minimal special education services may benefit from Itinerant Instruction, which provides intermittent instruction, consultation, and/or materials provided by district-wide special education teachers.
Resource Instruction: Eligible students may receive resource instruction in a separate classroom for part of their school day. This level of service supplements or replaces general education class instruction depending on the student's needs. Resource teachers typically work with students in skill deficits in core subjects and provide individual or small group instruction as determined by the IEP/IFSP team.
Self-Contained Programs: At this level of service, students with needs that cannot be met by itinerant or resource level services receive instruction in a separate classroom for the majority of the school day. These specialized programs offer the environmental changes needed to ensure educational success. One teacher is in charge for most of the school day and provides the majority of instruction. Paraprofessionals may also work with the teacher and students. Class sizes are kept smaller than the general education classroom to provide the educational support needed by the students.
Separate Day School: Students whose IEP needs exceed those of a self-contained program may need the support of a separate day school. Member district staff remain involved in each of these programs, and students and their families are assigned a case manager to ensure that the students' progress is monitored and that the student is reintegrated into their resident district when exit criteria are met.
Homebound Instruction: Homebound instruction is provided for special education students who, because of medical problems documented by a physician, are either unable to attend regular classes for a period of not less than three school months or capable of learning at school but are unable to attend classes for intermittent periods of time totaling three school months during a school year.
Services for Students Parentally Placed in Private, Parochial, or Home Schools: When a student is parentally placed in private, parochial, or home-schooled, not due to FAPE, the district is responsible for child find and evaluation of these students. Following evaluation and identification, the district team will report recommendations and, if eligible, propose an IEP/IFSP following a team meeting with representatives of the public, nonpublic, and parents.
Related Services: Related services include transportation and other support services, such as speech or physical therapy, required for students with disabilities to benefit from special education. Speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are available at all of our district schools.
Extended School Year (ESY) Services: ESY services are offered to eligible special education students during summer vacation for students who lose critical skills during regular breaks in instruction and who require an excessive amount of time to regain those skills. Other factors may be considered. Skills appropriate for ESY consideration include those related to self-sufficiency, behavior, socialization, communication, and academics. A student's need and eligibility for ESY instruction is determined by the IEP/IFSP team.
Preschool Special Education Services: Parents of children who are at least three years of age but who have not reached the required age for kindergarten may request evaluation for special education preschool services from their district. The assessment will assess the child’s vision and hearing, language fluency, communication skills, medical history, cognitive development, gross/fine motor skills, and social-emotional development. If eligible, an IFSP will be developed. The IFSP team may determine that they need services while in their current setting or while attending a developmental preschool program at one of our districts for no cost.
Transition Services: Transition services are provided for students who are at least sixteen years old. These services, which are based on each student's strengths, interests, and preferences, help students make the transition from school to post-school activities, including college education, vocational training, employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation. For students aged 18-21, who remain enrolled, there are two transition programs: one at the River Bluff Education Center, a GCED site in Red Wing, and the other at Red Wing High School. IEP teams will propose the most appropriate program based on student strengths and needs.
Child Find: Locating and Identifying Children with Disabilities
Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires districts to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, age birth through age 21, who are located within the geographic boundaries of the district and who are in need of special education services. If you perceive that your child has a disability and is not making satisfactory academic, social behavioral and/or communicative progress and has a substantial limitation in the areas of learning and communicating, you may seek an evaluation through the district. District teams often attempt interventions first in an attempt to close any gaps in achievement. Although these interventions are a critical component, often providing teams with rich instructional data, teams will not use intervention systems to wrongfully delay evaluation.
Additional Services and Supports
GCED provides a range of additional services and supports to students and educators, including:
- Support for teachers who work with individuals who meet educational criteria for autism. The consultant is available to assist with evaluations, individual education programs, program and family supports, strategies, behavior challenges and general consultation.
- Education for students with emotional or behavioral difficulties.
- Physical therapists support the student and special education team to increase participation and independence.
Learn & Earn Program: Equipping Students for the Workplace
The Learn & Earn program is designed to equip students with essential workplace skills, industry-recognized certifications, and hands-on experiences through internships, job shadowing, and worksite tours. Students in Goodhue County who are 17 or 18 years old can participate in the Learn & Earn Program.
How It Works:
- Industry Tours: Occurring in December-January and April-May, Industry Tours allow businesses to showcase what they do and the various career pathways that exist in their business to students in the Learn & Earn Program.
- Internships: Students typically receive one/two placements with local employers - one for February/March and one for April/May.
A Collaborative Approach to Reading: Supporting Learners Together
GCED understands that collaboration is essential for supporting more learners and ensuring that all children learn and meet high expectations. By forming partnerships, GCED can solve problems and improve learning outcomes.
GCED recognizes the importance of early intervention in reading development, as highlighted by the parent whose daughter received support through GCED's Reading Center. This support helped the daughter catch up in reading and fostered a love of books.
tags: #goodhue #county #education #district #programs
