Special Services Department

The Special Services Department of the Tallassee City Schools System promotes opportunities for students served under the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004 (IDEA/Special Education), Gifted, English as a Second Language (ESL)and/or English language learners (ELL), Migrant Education and Section 504 to fully participate in all appropriate educational activities in order to become productive citizens.  The Special Services Department provides supportive leadership to parents, local school administrators and teachers in their efforts to ensure a free and appropriate public education to all students. 

The Special Services Department promotes opportunities for gifted, English language learners, migrant students, and disabled students to participate in educational activities designed to facilitate maximum student achievement.  A full range of services, meeting the needs of all identified disabled students (Pre-K – 12), is offered in all schools in the Tallassee City School System. Disabilities recognized by the State of Alabama include Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Developmental Delay, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Mental Retardation, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disabilities, Speech and Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury and Visual Impairment.

Discipline Policy for Special Education Students

Suspension and expulsion may be appropriate disciplinary action for student with disabilities, but additional procedural protections may apply. If suspension is considered beyond ten days in a school year, the IEP Team must determine whether such removal is appropriate for the student. The IEP Team will review the student’s behavior, the IEP and/or the Behavioral Intervention Plan to determine whether the student’s behavior was a manifestation of the student’s disability. Only where it is properly determined that a student’s behavior is not a manifestation of the student’s disability may the student be further removed from school or expelled. For removals that are beyond ten days cumulatively, in a school year, the IEP Team will also determine services that will be provided during the suspension or expulsion period. For students who present dangerous or certain criminal behaviors, emergency procedures will be followed.