Students enrolling in Madison City Schools district who have received special education services or were in the process of being evaluated for special education services in a previous district, will be asked during registration for  appropriate documentation (i.e., IEP, eligibility statement, etc.).

The parent/guardian will be contacted by the child's school within ten days to develop an IEP, determine what components need to be evaluated to meet Alabama Administrative Code (AAC), and obtain consent for those components. Until Alabama eligibility can be determined, the child will receive appropriate services in accordance with their most recent IEP. Once the necessary components have been completed, a meeting will be scheduled to review the results of the assessments and determine if the child meets eligibility as set forth by the AAC. If so, a new IEP will be developed and implemented.

Parents, teachers, physicians, therapists, etc., may make a special education referral for a child if a disability is suspected and the need for specially designed instruction may be required. 

Please contact Special Education Services Department if:

• your child attends a private school within the MCS district.
• your child attends a home school within the MCS district.
• your child attends a preschool.

Please contact your child's school (teacher, school counselor, or principal) if:

• your child is school age and currently attends a MCS school

A meeting will be scheduled to review the concerns and data (including grades, attendance, discipline, health, etc.). If the referral is accepted, parents/guardians will be asked to give written consent for the evaluation to occur. From the date of signature, a multi-disciplinary team will complete the evaluation within a 60-day time period. 

Following the completion of the evaluation, a meeting will be scheduled within thirty calendar days to review the results of the assessments. Following the review, the Team will determine if the student meets eligibility criteria under the Alabama Administrative Code for one of the thirteen areas of eligibility for special education services. If it is determined that the child meets eligibility criteria, the parent/guardian will provide written consent in order for services to be delivered.

Once a child is found eligible to receive special education services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed and specially designed to help the child progress in the educational curriculum. IEP goals may include academic goals, transition and career goals, and/or behavior goals. Related services (i.e., speech, occupational and physical therapies) may be included as determined by the IEP Team based on the child's individual needs. IEP's are reviewed and revised annually but may be reviewed more frequently, as needed.