Navigating Special Education Schools in Maryland: A Comprehensive Guide
Maryland is committed to providing a comprehensive and supportive educational environment for students with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in its special education programs and services designed to address the unique needs of each student. Maryland state laws require that all students with disabilities be provided a “free, appropriate public education” that helps them learn and prepares them for employment and daily living. This article offers a detailed overview of special education schools and services in Maryland, encompassing various programs, resources, and support systems available to students with disabilities and their families.
The Foundation: Maryland's Commitment to Special Education
The MSDE Division of Special Education provides leadership, accountability, technical assistance, and resource management to local school systems, public agencies, and stakeholders through a seamless, comprehensive system of coordinated services to children and students with disabilities, birth through age 21, and their families. This division plays a crucial role in ensuring that special education services are effectively implemented across the state.
Maryland Elevates is the Division of Special Education's comprehensive online resource for leaders, families, and providers of early intervention and special education.
Individualized Support: IFSPs and IEPs
Local public school districts provide individualized or special education and related services to students with disabilities from birth until they leave high school. These services are provided as part of a written Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP) for children age 0-3, or an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for children in Pre-K through 12th grade.
Eligibility for special education and related services is determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team based on educational and ophthalmological or optometric evaluations. A referral to the IEP team or IFSP team may be made by a parent, teacher, doctor, or any service provider who suspects that a child may have an educational disability.
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Early Childhood Special Education Programs
Maryland offers a range of early childhood special education programs designed to support young children with disabilities and developmental delays.
Regional Early Childhood Centers in Howard County
Location: Regional Early Childhood Centers located at elementary schools throughout Howard County. The program serves children who are three through five years of age who have a disability or developmental delay. Children receive services in classes with children who do not have disabilities. Kindergarten-age children generally receive services in general education kindergarten classes in their home elementary school or a regionally based school.
Ages/Needs Served: Children between the ages of 3 and 5 years with an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Program Features:
- Inclusive opportunities alongside children with and without disabilities.
- Family Support Network Coordinators are available to provide information, support, and linkages to community resources for families of children from birth through five years of age.
- They coordinate a parent training program as well as a parent mentor program which links “experienced” parents of children with disabilities with those parents of children who are new to the programs.
Early Intervention Programs
Ages/Needs Served: Toddlers and preschool students who have moderate to severe needs in engagement, independence, communication, and social interaction. Family members actively participate in the children’s intervention programs.
Program Features:
- School-based sessions up to 10 hours per week, including large, small group and intensive structured teaching (IST).
- 2.5 hours per day, 4 days per week.
- Inclusive opportunities alongside children with and without disabilities.
- School-based sessions up to 26 per week, including large, small group and intensive structured teaching (IST).
- Classes include children with and without disabilities.
Comprehensive Special Education Schools: Kennedy Krieger School Programs
Kennedy Krieger School Programs include five schools that offer services to students with learning challenges. These programs are accredited by the National Commission for the Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES).
Ages Served: Students ages 5-21.
Focus: The programs focus on the development of academic, social, emotional, and behavioral skills through transdisciplinary, comprehensive instruction in an environment that recognizes and capitalizes on the individual strengths of each student.
Reach: Kennedy Krieger School Programs serve nearly 500 public school students with complex disabilities. Students come from more than half of the school districts across Maryland and are referred by their local school systems.
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Nonpublic Special Education Day Schools
Maryland also features nonpublic special education day schools that cater to students with specific needs.
Carmen A. Brian M.: A nonpublic special education day school providing year-round educational, therapeutic, and daily living services to students ages 12 to 21 with autism, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, other health impairment, and specific learning disabilities.
Another nonpublic special education day school serves students ages 5-21 (grades K-12) with autism, development delay, emotional disability, multiple disabilities, other health impairments, specific learning disability, and speech or language impairments.
Ages/Needs Served: Students age 3 through 21, whose needs are so complex that they require a specialized, comprehensive program in a special school setting.
Specialized Programs within Public Schools
Public schools in Maryland also offer specialized programs to support students with disabilities within the general education setting.
Elementary and Middle School Learner Programs
The Elementary Learner Programs support and develop the students’ academic, communication, social skills, and behavior using a variety of methodologies and tools.
Instruction: Based on student needs outlined in the Individual Education Program (IEP), students receive their instruction in self-contained and/or general education classes with access to general education curriculum and extracurricular school activities as appropriate.
Experience: Students participate in a typical elementary or middle school experience with support and interventions as needed.
High School Transition Programs
Preparation for transition for post high school is an integral part of each program.
- Transition Plan: A transition plan is developed to meet the unique needs of each student as they prepare to exit high school and may include in-school work experience, work enclave, and work study as appropriate.
Bridges Program
Bridges is designed for students who face challenges due to mental health needs (like anxiety, depression and/or other mood disorders) or neurological conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Support: Many students in the program benefit from support with developing social skills and ways to cope with school and personal challenges, which can often affect their emotional and academic performance.
Features:
- Including spaces for students to complete work with reduced distractions and regulate emotions.
- Staff who prioritize relationship building and partner with students to meet their educational needs with compassion and care.
- Mental health and counseling services in different formats including individual and group.
Community School Resources
As a community school, Homewood offers additional resources and supports that benefit the whole child, such as free breakfast/lunch, vocational experiences, and access to medical/psychological care. Therapeutic staff are able to collaborate with community providers as needed.
Services for Students with Hearing and Visual Impairments
Ages/Needs Served: Students with significant hearing losses and deafness who are enrolled in elementary, middle, and high schools. These services are also provided to students enrolled in Cedar Lane School, the Early Beginnings Program, and the Preschool-Kindergarten Program.
Eligibility: Eligibility for special education and related services is determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team based on educational and ophthalmological or optometric evaluations.
Project SEARCH Howard
Ages/Needs Served: young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities that are in their last year of high school.
Model: The Project SEARCH model involves an extensive period of training and career exploration, innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from teachers, job coaches, and employers. At the end of the training program, students with significant intellectual disabilities are employed in nontraditional, complex and rewarding jobs.
Cornerstone: The cornerstone of this one-year program, Project SEARCH Howard, is total immersion within a partnering business.
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