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Special Education
Special Education
Every student can succeed when given the right tools and guidance tailored to their individual learning journey.
Empowering Every Learner
The Special Education department at PACT serves students from grades K to 12, offering personalized services to support both academic progress and personal growth. These services are provided free of charge, ensuring all eligible students have access to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
To access special education services, students must complete an evaluation process and meet eligibility criteria for a specific disability category as outlined by the Minnesota Department of Education. This process ensures that eligibility is determined fairly and transparently, based on whether the disability significantly affects educational performance and requires specialized instruction. A student may have a medical diagnosis but not qualify for services if there is no educational need. Conversely, a student could qualify for special education based on an educational diagnosis even without a formal medical diagnosis.
We collaborate closely with families, students, and staff to develop supportive, personalized plans that prepare students for success both in school and beyond, emphasizing our team's role in fostering student achievement.
The IEP Process
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An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is created for students who qualify for special education services and is designed to support their unique learning needs. Each IEP is developed through a collaborative process that includes parents/guardians and members of the school team. Together, we identify goals, services, and supports while ensuring students learn in the most inclusive and least restrictive environment appropriate for them. Our focus is on providing meaningful, individualized instruction that helps every student grow and succeed.
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- Referral
You may notice your child struggling in the classroom, or a teacher may bring concerns to your attention. When this happens, the Student and Teacher Assistance Team (STAT), a group of school and district professionals, works together to develop intensive Tier 3 interventions. These interventions are designed to support your child in the classroom and are carried out over two 6-week cycles. - Monitoring
The STAT team carefully tracks how your child responds to the Tier 3 interventions. If your child is not making enough progress, the school may recommend a referral for a special education evaluation to understand their needs better. - Planning
Before the evaluation begins, the special education evaluation team will meet with you to review the information gathered from the STAT interventions and classroom performance. This is also your chance to share your child’s developmental history, health background, and any concerns you have. The team then uses this information to develop a comprehensive evaluation plan. - Evaluation
The evaluation only starts after you provide written consent. It is designed to look at all areas of concern and may include testing, classroom observations, and interviews with you and your child’s teachers. The school has 30 school days to complete the evaluation. - Eligibility
After the evaluation is complete, the team will meet with you to review the results. Together, you will determine whether your child qualifies for special education under one of the thirteen disability categories and whether they need specialized instruction to succeed. - IEP
If your child is found eligible, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed within 30 days. The IEP explains your child’s goals, the supports and services they will receive, and the least restrictive environment (LRE) where they can learn successfully. - Services
Your child will begin receiving the services outlined in the IEP once you provide written consent. The school will monitor your child’s progress closely and provide you with updates four times a year. - Review
The IEP team will review and update your child’s plan at least once a year to ensure it continues to meet their needs. Your child will also be reevaluated at least every three years, unless the team determines that a new evaluation is not necessary. - Exit
When your child meets their goals and no longer requires specialized instruction, the team will evaluate them and, if appropriate, formally exit them from special education services.
- Referral
Special Education Advisory Council
The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) serves as a collaborative forum where parents and staff come together to share ideas, identify needs, and provide feedback that helps strengthen PACT’s special education programs. The council works to improve services and expand educational and extracurricular opportunities for students with disabilities, ensuring every child is supported in reaching their full potential. Members include parents of students with disabilities—as required by the State of Minnesota—along with teachers and staff appointed by the council chair. Together, they foster communication, partnership, and continuous improvement in support of all learners.
2025-2026 Members:
Chair: AnnaRae Klopfer, Director of Special Services
Parents: Amber Bona, Katie Flermoen, Sarah Lundeen, Hannah McElmury
Staff: Natasha Tice, Michelle Goodrich, Cheryl Swenson
2025-2026 Members
AnnaRae Klopfer, Chair | Director of Special Services
Natasha Tice, Elementary Special Education Teacher
Michelle Goodrich, Secondary Special Education Teacher
Cheryl Swenson, Secondary Paraprofessional
Amber Bona, Parent
Katie Flermoen, Parent
Sarah Lundeen, Parent
Hannah McElmury, Parent
Special Education Acronyms
- MDE – Minnesota Department of Education
- OSEP – Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education
- ADSIS – Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services
- CEIS – Coordinated Early Intervening Services
- DHS – Department of Human Services
- LEA – Local Education Agency (i.e., school district, charter school, etc.)
- SEA – State Education Agency
- SEAC – Special Education Advisory Council
- TSES – Total Special Education System
- ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
- IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education
- LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
- ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorders
- BVI – Blind-Visually Impaired
- DB – Deaf-Blind
- DHH – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- DCD:MM – Developmental Cognitive Disabilities: Mild to Moderate
- DCD:SP – Developmental Cognitive Disabilities: Severe to Profound
- DD – Developmental Delay (birth to age seven)
- EBD – Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
- OHD – Other Health Disabilities
- PI – Physically Impaired
- SMI – Severely Multiply Impaired
- SLD – Specific Learning Disabilities
- SLI – Speech or Language Impairments
- TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
- AT – Assistive Technology
- BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan
- BPP – Basic Psychological Processing
- CM – Case Manager
- DAPE – Developmental and Adaptive Physical Education
- ER – Evaluation Report
- ESY – Extended School Year
- FBA – Functional Behavioral Assessment
- IEP – Individualized Education Plan
- LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse
- LSN – Licensed School Nurse
- MA – Medical Assistance
- MCA – Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment
- MHP – Mental Health Professional
- MTSS – Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
- NOTM – Notice of a Team Meeting
- OT – Occupational Therapy/Therapist
- PCA – Personal Care Assistant
- PLAAFP – Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance
- PSYCH – School Psychologist
- PT – Physical Therapy/Therapist
- PWN – Prior Written Notice
- RP – Restrictive Procedures
- SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
- STAT – Student and Teacher Assistance Team
- SW – Social Worker
- VR – Vocational Rehabilitation
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- MDE – Minnesota Department of Education
- OSEP – Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education
- ADSIS – Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services
- CEIS – Coordinated Early Intervening Services
- DHS – Department of Human Services
- LEA – Local Education Agency (i.e., school district, charter school, etc.)
- SEA – State Education Agency
- SEAC – Special Education Advisory Council
- TSES – Total Special Education System
-
- ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
- IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education
- LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
-
- ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorders
- BVI – Blind-Visually Impaired
- DB – Deaf-Blind
- DHH – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- DCD:MM – Developmental Cognitive Disabilities: Mild to Moderate
- DCD:SP – Developmental Cognitive Disabilities: Severe to Profound
- DD – Developmental Delay (birth to age seven)
- EBD – Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
- OHD – Other Health Disabilities
- PI – Physically Impaired
- SMI – Severely Multiply Impaired
- SLD – Specific Learning Disabilities
- SLI – Speech or Language Impairments
- TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
-
- AT – Assistive Technology
- BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan
- BPP – Basic Psychological Processing
- CM – Case Manager
- DAPE – Developmental and Adaptive Physical Education
- ER – Evaluation Report
- ESY – Extended School Year
- FBA – Functional Behavioral Assessment
- IEP – Individualized Education Plan
- LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse
- LSN – Licensed School Nurse
- MA – Medical Assistance
- MCA – Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment
- MHP – Mental Health Professional
- MTSS – Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
- NOTM – Notice of a Team Meeting
- OT – Occupational Therapy/Therapist
- PCA – Personal Care Assistant
- PLAAFP – Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance
- PSYCH – School Psychologist
- PT – Physical Therapy/Therapist
- PWN – Prior Written Notice
- RP – Restrictive Procedures
- SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
- STAT – Student and Teacher Assistance Team
- SW – Social Worker
- VR – Vocational Rehabilitation
