Private & Parochial Schools

Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires states to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth to 21, who are in need of early intervention or special education services. Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer as early as possible all young children with disabilities and their families who are in need of an Early Intervention Program (Part C) or Early Childhood Special Education (Part B) services of the IDEA.

Please click here to read about Child Find

This Affirmation is signed by the private school representative each year to document that the Madison Metropolitan School District engaged in timely and meaningful consultation during the design and development of special education and related services.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Affirmation

Enrollment Link for Private & Parochial Students when a Special Education Referral is to be made. webapp1.madison.k12.wi.us/webapp1/enroll-short/

Special Education Eligibility Guides can be found on DPI's website https://dpi.wi.gov/sped/laws-procedures-bulletins/laws/eligibility 

Students with disabilities attending private or parochial schools

With the enactment of IDEA 2004 the MMSD has the responsibility for implementing the IDEA requirements for parentally placed private school students with disabilities who attend state recognized private or parochial (P/P) (elementary & secondary) schools within the MMSD boundary, regardless of their district of residency.

IDEA requirements for parentally placed PP students with disabilities in WI apply to students in grades K4 through grade 12. 

Students transferring from MMSD public school to MMSD private/parochial schools

Students who transfer to a private or parochial school served by MMSD are still considered MMSD students.  For students who meet eligibility for one or more disability areas, MMSD is responsible for offering 3 year reevaluations, and determining if any services will be offered to the private school via a Service Plan.  It is not necessary to obtain written parental consent to share information between MMSD public and MMSD private/parochial schools. 

• If the services the student received at MMSD are within the array of services offered at private schools, the parent is notified and a service plan can be developed to outline the services
• If the services the student received at MMSD are not within the array of services, MMSD will discuss with the parent that no services are available in the private school, but that the student remains entitled to services should they enroll in the public schools.

Note* DPI now recognizes/accepts private diagnoses of Dyslexia.  However, the DPI disability eligibility criteria does not assess for Dyslexia.  Eligibility criteria exists for Specific Learning Disabilities in Reading, Writing, and Math.  So, just like a student with ADHD may/may not meet the DPI eligibility criteria of OHI, a student with Dyslexia may/may not meet the DPI eligibility criteria of SLD.

Students transferring from private/parochial schools to MMSD public schools

Students who transfer into an MMSD public school from a private schools would be considered an in-district transfer (as opposed to students who come in from another district).  If the student is a prior MMSD public school student who returns to the MMSD public schools, their IEP would be reinstated, or if expired, would be developed. 

Array of Services

Speech/Language Therapy

• 4K – 5th Grade:  Consultation and/or Direct Service for Speech, Language & Fluence with documented impact on educational achievement.
•  6th - 12th Grade:  Consultation and/or Direct Service for Fluency with documented impact on educational achievement.

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Instruction

• 4K – 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service (does not include ASL Interpretation)      

Audiology

• 4K – 12th Grade: Consultation

Vision Instruction 

• 4K – 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service (does not include materials production)

Orientation & Mobility

• 4K – 12th Grade: Consultation and/or Direct Service 

Professional Development related to the needs of students identified with disabilities

The purpose of Student Support and Intervention Team (SSIT) is to collaboratively problem solve to address the needs of individual students who are not making expected progress. During the collaboration, we all increase knowledge of student's strengths and challenges, determine strategies and supports, and determine appropriate referrals to special education and/or outside agencies. The outcome of the SSIT will be to document a plan that seeks to promote student success. 

During the SSIT Meeting we will:

• Review of Information
• Define the specific problem
• Discuss what we want the child to know or be able to do
• Develop a plan that may include:
  • Instructional Strategies
  • Accommodations
  • Modifications
  • Interventions
• Based on results, consider a referral for special education 

Parents can request an evaluation by completing this form and completing the online enrollment form

webapp1.madison.k12.wi.us/webapp1/enroll-short/

Summer Semester Office Contacts

• Summer Semester Office
  summerschool@madison.k12.wi.us
  (608) 663-1914

Private & Parochial School Contact Information