Overview of Special Services in Columbia School District

• •The Special Education department serves approximately 350 students using 23 teachers and 5 speech pathologists.
• •Special Education services cover children ages 3 through 21.
• •The Gifted Education program serves approximately 138 students in grades 2-6 with 3 gifted teachers.
• •The Mississippi Gifted Education Act mandates gifted programs for intellectually gifted students in grades 2-6.
• •Intellectually gifted programs are an entitlement under state law, while artistically, creatively, and academically gifted programs are optional.
• •The gifted referral process requires documentation of at least two criteria (e.g., 91st percentile on intelligence or achievement tests).
• •The gifted assessment phase requires meeting three criteria, followed by an individually administered norm-referenced intelligence test requiring a 91st percentile score for eligibility.
• •Gifted program placement requires written parental consent.
• •Special Education services include inclusion, tutorial, resource, self-contained, community-based programs, day treatment, preschool programs, and homebound services.

This document defines the scope of educational support services available to students and the specific eligibility criteria for gifted programs within the Columbia School District.

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.