Technical Academies of Minnesota

Special Education

DREAM offers a spectrum of Special Education programs and services to students in grades 7th-12th. The goal of the Special Education Department is to provide a free and appropriate public education for students with disabilities by collaborating with general education and related service providers to deliver a continuum of services. To receive special education services, a student must first be evaluated and meet Minnesota State Criteria. Once qualified, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is developed for the student. The IEP outlines the unique needs of the student and the specialized goals and objectives that will help the student make educational progress. Parents and/or guardians are critical partners in every phase of identifying a student for special education and in establishing the IEP.

DREAM provides special education services designed to meet the needs of students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state law (Minnesota rules and statues). The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is a law ensuring services to children with disabilities throughout the nation.

IDEA governs how state and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.
The State of Minnesota has mandated eligibility criteria for all disabilities; students must have a disability and be in need of special education to be eligible for services. Categories or areas in which children may be placed in special education include:

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Deaf-Blindness (DB)
Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH)
Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD)
Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (EBD)
Other Health Impairment (OHI)
Physically Impaired (PI)
Severe Multiply Impaired (SMI)
Speech or Language Impairment (Sp/L)
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Visually Impaired (VI)

Check out these weblinks:
U.S. Department of Education
Minnesota Department of Education
Information & Resources for Parents of Children with Disabilities