Students with Disabilities or Specific Medical Needs
Special Education
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)
Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
In MPS, no otherwise qualified individual with disabilities shall be excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of district programs and services solely because of his/her disability or be subjected to discrimination within MPS. MPS offers a free, appropriate, public education to each qualified child with a disability within the city of Milwaukee regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.
In its commitment to provide each child the opportunity to reach his/her fullest potential, MPS strives to meet the needs of all children, including those with disabilities. MPS implements practices to ensure that students with disabilities are identified, evaluated, and provided with appropriate education services.
Evaluation
Procedures used to evaluate and place students must be nondiscriminatory to guard against misclassification or inappropriate placement of students with disabilities. Students who are provided special education, Section 504/ADA accommodations, and related services will be periodically reevaluated to ensure that services remain appropriate.
Education Needs
Services or accommodations provided to meet the individual education needs of students with disabilities will be designed and provided to meet the same quality standard as the services provided to other students.
Equal in Quality
The quality of educational services, facilities, learning materials, and equipment for students with disabilities must be equal in quality to those provided for other students.
Least Restrictive Environment
Students with disabilities are to be educated in the least restrictive environment to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of the individual student.
Parent Involvement
Procedures are set to ensure that parents/guardians can participate in the evaluation and placement decisions. The district also implements grievance procedures and impartial hearings in which the parent/guardian can participate and be represented by legal counsel. See Section 504: Notice of Rights for more information.
More Information
If you have questions, please contact:
Dr. Travis Pinter, Senior Director of Specialized Services
Phone: (414) 438-3648
Email: pinterte@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Jean Gatz, Section 504/ADA Coordinator
Phone: (414) 438-3677
Email: sprengjm@milwaukee.k12.wi.us
Student Placement and Nursing Services
MPS affords each student the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Every school’s focus is on the best interest of the child, but every school in the district may not be an appropriate placement for a student who has specific medical needs and requires nursing services during the school day. Although most schools have a nurse for a period of time during the school day, some schools do not have nursing services. Therefore, there may be enrollment limitations based on available nursing services. If your child has a specific medical need that requires the services of a nurse, please inform staff when registering your child for school. Inform the school if your child’s medical needs change during the school year. For further information on student health services, contact Tashanda Edelen, MPS manager of health services, at (414) 438-3539.