Special Education
About our Special Education Department
Kelloggsville Public Schools provides supports in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for ALL students. If you suspect that your child is in need of special education support, contact your child's classroom teacher or principal. A student support team meeting will be held. The purpose of this meeting is to determine what interventions and supports may be needed.
Evaluation services are available to any resident of the Kelloggsville Public School District, students who attend St. John Vianney, or registered home-schoolers. Psychological, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language and social work testing are available.
Kelloggsville Public Schools provides special education programs and services in all buildings and is a part of Region III of Kent County. Region III is comprised of Byron Center, Godfrey-Lee, Godwin Heights, Grandville, Kelloggsville, and Wyoming Public Schools. Sometimes students require programs and services that are offered outside of our local district. These may be provided through a regional program.
- Byron Center Public Schools houses the Moderately Cognitive Impaired Programs
- Godwin Heights Public Schools and Grandville Public Schools house the Autism Programs
- Wyoming Public Schools and Godwin Heights Public Schools house the Emotionally Impaired Programs
In addition to local and regional programs and services, some students with significant needs may require Center-based programming through Kent Intermediate School District.
Support for non-school aged students is provided through the following options: itinerant services (speech & language, social work, and/or occupational therapy) and our Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program.
For more information, contact:
Kim Fountaine, Director of Student Services
616-532-1585
Lori Martinez, Administrative Assistant
616-532-1585.
Child Find
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), public schools have a responsibility to identify and support students with disabilities. This identification responsibility is commonly referred to as “child find.” In Michigan, which adheres to both the federal IDEA and the Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE), child find means schools must seek out and evaluate individuals aged birth to 26-years-old suspected of having disabilities. Parents may also request a special education evaluation if they believe their child could meet educational disability criteria. Ultimately, special education programs and services are provided to eligible students with disabilities who have been evaluated in a manner consistent with IDEA and MARSE.
Early On
Early On provides developmental evaluations and in-home early interventions for children with developmental delays or medical conditions from birth to 3-years old. If you have concerns about your child’s crawling, walking, or talking please contact Early-On of Kent County at 616-365-2310 or visit their website. https://www.accesskent.com/Health/Families/early.htm
Parent Advisory for Special Education
The Kent Intermediate School District (KISD) maintains a Parent Advisors for Special Education (PASE) committee. This committee provides input on special education programs and service provision within Kent County. PASE consists of parents of children with disabilities from each of the local KISD school districts. All PASE representatives are volunteers who must be approved by their local boards of education. For more information on PASE: https://www.kentisd.org/special-education/parent-resources/pase-/
Specific Learning Disability Determination (SLD) Pattern of Strengths and Weaknesses (PSW)
Kelloggsville Public Schools uses the Pattern of Strengths and Weakness (PSW) model for the determination of a specific learning disability (SLD). If a student demonstrates limited documented progress subsequent to the application of targeted, increasingly-intensive interventions within the general education setting, a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team evaluates his/her pattern of achievement and may identify a SLD if significant performance differences (i.e., at least one area of “strength” and at least one area of “weakness”) are observed across two or more of the following areas:
- Basic Reading
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading Fluency
- Mathematics Calculation
- Mathematics Problem Solving
- Oral Expression
- Listening Comprehension
- Written expression
A "Pattern of Strength" is identified when a student exhibits average/benchmark level or greater performance compared to same-age or same-grade peers on at least three separate assessment measures within one of the eight areas, including performance at or above the 25th percentile compared to national or local norms on at least one individually- administered achievement measure.
A "Pattern of Weakness" is identified when a student exhibits below age or grade level achievement on at least four separate assessment measures within one of the eight areas, including performance at or below the 9th percentile compared to national or local norms on at least one individually administered achievement measure.
In making a determination as to whether a student has or continues to have a SLD, Kelloggsville Public Schools complies with all applicable federal regulations and State rules, including those addressing comprehensive evaluations, determination of the existence of a SLD, observation of academic performance, and behavior in the areas of difficulty, specific documentation for SLD eligibility determination, and re-evaluation requirements.
Special Education Resources
Glossary of Special Education Terms
A Parent's Guide to Navigating the IEP Process
Special Education Parent Handbook with Procedural Safeguards
English
Spanish
Kinyarwanda
Swahili
Multiple Language options available at Michigan Department of Education
Student Rights Handbook
MARSE Rules Supplemented with IDEA
Kent ISD Special Education Resources
977 - 44th St. SW
Wyoming MI 49509 (Located at KECLC)
Phone: 616-532-1585
Fax 616-532-7437
Director of Student Services - Ms. Kim Fountaine
Admin. Asst. - Ms. Lori Martinez
Special Education Programs and Services
Resource Program
The resource program supports growth in the general education curriculum by providing specialized instruction in targeted academic areas.
Early Childhood Special Education
Preschool students who are eligible for special education are supported through the district’s early childhood special education program.
Speech and Language Service
Eligible students receive instruction by speech/language pathologists to improve expressive language, receptive language, fluency, and/or articulation.
Social Work Service
School social work addresses the social, emotional, and/or behavioral needs of students in the educational setting.
Occupational Therapy Service
Sensory and/or fine motor needs with identified educational impact are addressed directly or consultatively by occupational therapists.
Regional and Center Programs
Kelloggsville Public Schools cooperates regionally and at the county level to provide programs for students whose needs cannot be met within the traditional school setting or district.
Additional Services
In collaboration with Kent Intermediate School District physical therapy, visual impairment services, and deaf and hard of hearing support are provided to eligible students.