SPECIAL EDUCATION AT CONCORD COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
Concord Community Schools provides special education services for more than 700 students ages 3-22. Concord is a part of the Elkhart County Special Education Cooperative (ECSEC). We have a talented staff of special education teachers, speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, and behavior resource consultants who are dedicated to meeting the unique needs of students.
Concord Community Schools provides a continuum of services to provide support for mild to intense instructional needs. Specialized programs within the district include the deaf hard of hearing programming for Elkhart County, Life Skills, Students Realizing Individual Vision of Excellence (STRIVE), preschool, and young adult programs.
In November 2020, the Concord Community Schools special education department received the Results Driven Accountability assessment from the Indiana Department of Education, Office of Special Education (IDOE/SE) under the Individuals with Disability Act (IDEA). Based on a number of criteria, Concord Community Schools was awarded the highest of four possible categories of “Meets Requirements."
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if there are concerns for my school-aged child?
Any individual (i.e. parent, teacher, principal) suspecting that a child could have a disability and require special education services, should contact the building principal to discuss options. The school may suggest:
Providing additional support in the classroom prior to a referral for special education
Reviewing your child’s performance with the school’s Strategies team and develop interventions
Referring your child for a special education evaluation
Every effort will be made to support the student prior to the school initiating a referral for a special education evaluation. If the strategies fail, the school will seek permission from the parent. The parent may request an evaluation at any time to determine eligibility for special education services. This request should be clearly communicated to the building principal.
What if I have concerns for my preschool-aged child?
If the child is preschool age (3 to 5 years old) the request should be directed to the Elkhart County Special Education Cooperative 574-533-3151.
If my student received special education services in another school district, can they receive services at a Concord school?
Yes. Upon enrollment at a Concord school, a Transfer Enrollment Form should be signed to facilitate access to the existing Individualized Education Program (IEP). A case conference committee meeting including the necessary Concord staff and parents will be held to develop a move-in IEP within 10 school days of enrollment.
If my student previously received special education services in Concord, how do I obtain those records?
Call the records secretary at the Elkhart County Special Education Cooperative to request copies of the special education records at 574-533-3151.