The Bureau of Instructional Support and Community Services
supports school districts and others in their efforts to provide exceptional
student education programs for students ages 3 - 21 who have disabilities and
students who are gifted.
Each school district is responsible for
providing services to students who are eligible for the following exceptional
student education (ESE) programs.
Autistic
Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing
Developmentally Delayed (prekindergarten only)
Dual-Sensory Impaired
(Deaf-Blind)
Emotionally Handicapped (Emotionally
Handicapped and Severely Emotionally Disturbed)
Gifted
Homebound or
Hospitalized
Mentally Handicapped (Educable, Trainable, and Profound)
Physically Impaired
Specific Learning Disabilities
Speech and
Language Impaired
Visually Impaired (Blind and Partially Sighted)
School districts and schools develop their own programs to serve their
students in the most effective way possible. The bureau provides training to
school staff, district administrators, and others on important issues and
current instructional practices; gives the districts information on state and
federal law relating to the education of exceptional students; monitors the
districts' compliance with those laws; helps resolve conflicts between school
districts and families of exceptional students; and provides any other technical
assistance school districts need.
In addition, the bureau's Clearinghouse
Information Center provides many materials to help parents understand their
child's exceptionality, their child's right to a free appropriate education, and
the processes and activities that are involved in exceptional student education.
The bureau also supports various activities that encourage parent involvement
and parent/professional collaboration. Bureau staff respond to questions from
parents and try to help them resolve concerns about their child's ESE programs
and services. Parents and school districts may appeal the results of due process
hearings to the bureau.
The bureau works to ensure that ESE programs and
students are included in important state initiatives such as school reform,
dropout prevention, and school safety. The bureau coordinates with other
agencies that provide services to children, such as the Florida Department of
Children and Family Services and the Florida Department of Juvenile
Justice.
The Duval County School Board also operates the Child Find
program serving gifted and special needs children. All exceptional
family members with special education needs should be referred to this
organization. They do all testing and placements for the Jacksonville
area.