More about Special Education

Special Education provides and promotes leadership, technical assistance and collaboration statewide to ensure that all children and youth with disabilities receive a free, appropriate, public education.

The Bureau carries out its mission by

• Guiding the continuous improvement and monitoring of special education and related services;
• Supporting effective strategies and specialized support(s) for preschool age children with disabilities to participate and progress in appropriate preschool activities;
• Supporting effective instruction, specialized services, and supports for students with disabilities to participate and progress in the general curriculum;
• Creating partnerships with agencies, organizations, and individuals providing services and supports for students with disabilities;
• Providing and supporting high quality professional development opportunities for teachers, specialists, parents, and other interested parties;
• Supporting Institutions of Higher Education in the professional development and preparation of qualified teachers and specialists to assure appropriate support for students with disabilities;
• Improving and utilizing effective data collection systems that support the provision of quality educational services;
• Disseminating information on special education rules, regulations, professional development activities, and promising practices.

Special Education is charged with providing oversight and implementation of federal and state laws that ensure a free appropriate public education for all children and youth with disabilities in New Hampshire. Given this charge, the Mission of the Special Education is to improve educational outcomes for children and youth with disabilities by providing and promoting leadership, technical assistance and collaboration statewide. Through close coordination with the Department's general curriculum and instruction activities, the Bureau of Special Education guides and directs a comprehensive array of statewide educational initiatives. These initiatives are organized under the following five (5) areas.

Early Childhood Transitions Free Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment (FAPE)

General Supervision Parent Involvement Secondary Transition

Early Childhood Transitions

• Individualized Education plans on/or before third birthday
• State and local collaboration
• Transition planning
• Initiatives include: IDEA, NH Monitoring and Improvement Process, Continuous Improvement Focused Monitoring System (CIFMS), Annual Performance Report (APR), Quality Improvements Linking Together (QUILT), Early Childhood Transition Initiative

Free Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment (FAPE)

• Disproportionately
• Education in the least restrictive environment
• Increasing graduation rates
• Promoting the acquisition of early language/communication, pre-reading and social/emotional skills for preschool children
• Reducing the academic achievement gap on large scale assessments
• Reducing the numbers of suspensions and expulsions
• Initiatives include: IDEA, NH Monitoring and Improvement Process, Continuous Improvement Focused Monitoring System (CIFMS), Annual Performance Report (APR), Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS), Habits of Professional Excellence Institute (HOPE), State Improvement Grant, Technical Assistance Consultants

General Supervision

• Data/information guided decision making
• Qualified personnel
• Monitoring and program approval
• Timely and appropriate dispute resolution
• Timely evaluations
• Initiatives include: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), No Child Left Behind (NCLB), NH Monitoring and Improvement Process, Continuous Improvement Focused Monitoring System (CIFMS), Annual Performance Report (APR), State Improvement Grant, Special Education Information System (SPEDIS)

Parent Involvement

• Parents fully informed of rights and responsibilities
• Parents participate in all aspects of special education
• Initiatives include: IDEA, NH Monitoring and Improvement Process, Continuous Improvement Focused Monitoring System (CIFMS), Annual Performance Report (APR), State Improvement Grant, NH Connections

Secondary Transition

• Transition plans focus on post-secondary education, employment, independent living, and social/interpersonal relationships
• Students exiting high school are prepared
• Initiatives include: IDEA, Achievement for Dropout Prevention (APEX), NH Monitoring and Improvement Process, Continuous Improvement Focused Monitoring System (CIFMS), Annual Performance Report (APR), State Improvement Grant, NH Comprehensive Reform.