Student Support Services

Mankato Area Public Schools provides comprehensive programs and a wide range of services for students Birth-21. Most students receive services in their neighborhood school and when possible in their regular class setting. Student well-being is a priority and we have systems in place that will address individual student needs and provide support and resources for our families.

We work collaboratively with staff, students and families, to provide the best support and services that will enable students to grow and find success in the Least Restrictive Environment.

The Student Support Services Department provides a framework of assistance, support, and leadership in the programs and services which support the academic, social, behavioral, and emotional development of all students as well as direct support to school sites for resources and programs as needs arise.

The Student Support Services Department works to build connections between home and school especially when parents need help in understanding their child’s education and support needs. Our greatest potential for success lies in our cooperative and collaborative efforts with our parents, students, and our school and community resources and agencies that aid us in meeting the individual needs of all students.

Student Support Services

Special Education

What is Special Education?

Special education is instruction, specially designed to the student, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. Students with disabilities are general education students first. They receive special education support services in conjunction with the general education curriculum. Special education is a specialized instructional service, not a place.

Who can receive Special Education Services?

To qualify for special education services, a child must have a disability. A student may be referred by a teacher or by a parent. Prior to the referral, accommodations must be made and interventions attempted in the general education classroom. If the documentation from the interventions shows that the students is still not progressing academically, then a referral for special education evaluation may be recommended. If it appears that there is a need for an individual evaluation, the parent(s) will be invited to an evaluation planning meeting with school staff to determine the areas to be evaluated. A parent must approve the initial evaluation plan by signing the "Notice of an Education Evaluation/Re-Evaluation Plan."

A document titled "Parental Rights and Procedural Safeguards" will be given to the parents with the initial evaluation request. The evaluation must be completed within 30 school days from the date the written consent is received by the school district.

The child must meet state eligibility criteria in one of the categorical disabilities. You can find more information on categorical disabilities by clicking on the link below.

Categorical Disabilities

Early Childhood Special Education

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services are designed for children birth until the child's seventh birthday who have been identified with a delay in development. Services begin with a developmental evaluation. This evaluation documents a child’s skills in a variety of areas such as cognition, motor, social-emotional, language-communication, and/or adaptive (self-help) development. There are also certain conditions and medical diagnoses that automatically qualify a child for ECSE services.

Learn More About Early Childhood Special Education

Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC)

The mission of the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) is to serve as a special education resource/advocate and a communication link for students, parents and professionals within Mankato Area Public Schools. The membership of the council includes parents, school board members, and school staff. Members serve a two-year term and are eligible to serve two consecutive terms. We strive to have diverse representatives from all areas of disability and various age ranges.

Goals for the SEAC for Mankato Area Public Schools:

Serve students: providing support, transition information, insight, and connection to community resources.
Serve families: providing information, personal contact, and support for families.
Serve District 77 Professionals: providing input, support, and advocacy for special education issues in the community.

SEAC Meeting Minutes

SEAC Newsletter

504

SECTION 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 C.F.R. Part 104) is a federal civil rights statute that assures individuals will not be discriminated against based on their disability. All school districts that receive federal funding are responsible for the implementation of this law. This law protects a student with an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, whether the student receives special education services or not.

Examples of physical or mental impairments that may be covered under Section 504 include: epilepsy, AIDS, allergies, vision impairment, broken limbs, cancer, diabetes, asthma, temporary condition due to accidents or illness, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, depression, intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Examples of major life activities that can be affected by the student’s disability include: learning, thinking, concentrating, reading, speaking, walking, breathing, sleeping, caring for oneself, as well as major bodily functions, including brain function, immune system function, or digestive functions. This is not an exhaustive list.

Source: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/fam/504/

Futures

Futures serves MAPS students in Kindergarten through 12th grade and provides students that have Individual Education Plans (IEP) with a highly structured and supported learning environment that focuses on the acquisition, practice and generalization of social, emotional and behavioral skills. The Futures team works closely with students, families, other MAPS schools/programs and community partners to develop high individualized plans to meet the needs of students.

Staff

Carrie Richards
Special Education Supervisor
507-387-1455
507-207-4229 (fax)
1610 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003

Sun Program

The SUN Program serves students with unique needs in grades Kindergarten through age 21 and provides students with a highly individualized educational experience. SUN curriculum and programming places an emphasis on daily living skills, functional academics, recreation and leisure skills, employment skills and social and transition skills!

Staff

Carrie Richards
Special Education Supervisor
507-387-1455
2077 Lookout Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003

INSITE Program

INSITE is located in the center of Mankato with access to a wide range of supportive employment opportunities. The INSITE program is designed to offer students an independent living environment (kitchen, bathroom, living space, and bedroom), and classroom environment to expand on their functional academic skills (e.g., employment skills, money management, daily living, etc.) as well as access to community work partnerships.

INSITE offers students ages 18-21 an environment that is a living training center with 100% focus on transition skills for students with disabilities. INSITE is a post-high school special education transition program available to students in Mankato Area Public Schools and surrounding Districts as determined by Individual Education Plan (IEP) teams. As an extension of traditional high school coursework, the INSITE program focuses on supporting student progress on individualized transition goals.

While attending INSITE, the goal is to bring students to a level of proficiency and self-sufficiency in areas of transition skills and meet individual student needs in a way that is unique to a traditional classroom environment.

For more information, visit the INSITE website.

Health Services

The goal of the ISD #77 Health Services Team is to promote optimum health as the foundation for learning for all school aged children.

The Mankato Public Schools Health Services Team includes:

Licensed School Nurses
Building Health Assistants
Health Secretaries

The team is committed to providing the services needed so students are healthy, safe and ready to learn.

Licensed School Nurses strive to advance partnerships with students, parents/guardians, families, school staff, community resources and health care providers in order to provide students with consistent school management of their health care needs. Licensed School Nurses are an important part of the Student Support Services Teams in the school buildings.
Health Assistants work in the school health offices and are under the direct supervision and direction of the Licensed School Nurses and building principals. The Health Assistants administer daily medications and treatments for students as prescribed by health care providers and as communicated by the Licensed School Nurse. Health Assistants communicate with parents/guardians, provide limited daily first aid and emergency care to students.
Health Secretaries work with the Licensed School Nurses and Health Assistants to maintain accurate and up-to-date records of immunizations, health conditions and medication administration forms for students at all the public and non-public schools.

All the Health Service Team Members strive to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all students. We partner with parents and students by requesting that they keep us informed of any known health conditions that may result in an emergency or require assistance during the school day.

Health Services