What Is Special About Special Education?
Special education is governed by federal law in most educational jurisdictions. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Special Education is defined as:

"Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability."

Special education is in place to provide additional services, support, programs, specialized placements or environments to ensure that all students' educational needs are provided for. Special education is provided to qualifying students at no cost to the parents. Many students who have special learning needs, which are addressed through special education. The range of special education support will vary based on need and educational jurisdictions. Each country, state or educational jurisdiction will have different policies, rules, regulations and legislation that governs what special education is. In the US, the governing law is:

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Typically, the types of exceptionalities/disabilities will be clearly identified in the jurisdiction's law surrounding special education. Students qualifying for special education support have needs requiring support that goes beyond what is normally offered or received in the regular school/classroom setting.

The 13 categories under IDEA include:
* Autism
* Deaf or Blindness
* Developmental Delays
* Emotional Disturbance
* Hearing Impairments
* Intellectual Disabilities
* Multiple Disabilities
* Orthopedic Impairments
* Specific Learning Disabilities
* Speech Language Impairment
* Traumatic Brain Injury
​* Visual Impairments (including blindness)

Child Find Notice

As part of the “Nebraska Child Find” efforts, the Alliance Public Schools asks you to assist us in our efforts to identify and serve children ages birth through 21 years who may have a disability.  

If you know of a child who is experiencing difficulties with motor development, speech and language, vision, hearing or learning, please refer the parent to the number below. The Alliance Public School District will provide an educational evaluation at no cost to the parent. If the child qualifies under Nebraska law, a free and appropriate educational program will be developed to meet his/her educational needs.

To contact us, please call Byron Olsen, Director, at 308-762-4331 or stop by the Special Education Office located in Alliance High School, 14th and Laramie Ave. entrance.  You may also contact the Nebraska Child find at Nebraska ChildFind & Assistive Technology Partnership, 3901 N. 27th Street, Suite 5, Lincoln, NE 68521 Phone: 402-471-2447   Toll Free Phone: 1-888-806-6287.

Byron Olsen
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND
​EARLY CHILDHOOD