Special Services
The purpose of the Marion County School District Department of Special Services is to complement the general education curriculum so that students with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment and educate, prepare, and inspire students to be productive citizens in a changing global society.
The Office of Special Services currently serves students in Marion County School District through various programs. Programs administered through the Office of Special Services include:
Students who receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants all children from ages 3 to 21, whose disabilities require specialized services, the right to a free, public, appropriate education. There are 13 identified disabilities under the IDEA which include:
- Autism
- Specific Learning Disability (Including Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Auditory Processing Disorders, and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities)
- Intellectual Disabilities (Mild, Moderate, and Severe)
- Other Health Impairments (to include attention deficit disorders and seizure disorders)
- Emotional Disabilties
- Hearing Impairments
- Visual Impairments
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Deaf-Blindness
- Developmental Delay (identification ends at age 10)
- Speech Language Impairments
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairments
Students who meet state criteria for identification with one of these disabilities may be eligible to have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) developed. The purpose of an IEP is to provide specialized instruction to bridge academic and functional gaps in learning between students with disabilities and same aged peers.
Section 504
Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1973 allows for accommodations for students with disabling conditions. Students in regular education who are eligible under Section 504 have a written written 504 Plan which provides for accommodations in the school environment. A 504 plan is different from an IEP in that it generally does not include specialized instruction, covers more disability categories than IDEA allows, and the plan is administered completely by the general education program. This law is governed by the Office of Civil Rights.
Medicaid Programs
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) provides Medicaid reimbursement for medically necessary services provided to Medicaid-eligible students enrolled in Marion County School District. This includes, but is not limited to, children under the age of 21 who have or are at risk of developing sensory, emotional, behavioral, or social impairments, physical disabilities, medical conditions, developmental disabilities or delays.
Medical Homebound
Medical homebound instruction is provided for students with and without disabilities who cannot attend school for a medical reason - a mental or physical condition that exists due to an accident, an illness, or pregnancy - even when transportation is furnished. The goal of homebound instruction is to provide continuity of instruction and to facilitate the student's return to a regular school setting as quickly as possible.
Nursing Services
Nursing services are provided for students In Marion County School District in order to appraise, protect, and promote health. These services are designed to insure: access and/or referral top primary health care services, foster appropriate use of primary health care services, prevent and control communicable disease and other health problems, provide emergency care for illness or injury, promote and provide optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school facility and school environment, and provide educational and counseling opportunities for the promotion and maintenance of individual, family, and community health.
For more information about any of these programs, please contact:
(843) 423-1811
