Exceptional Student Services
Exceptional Student Services
Yuma School District One Exceptional Student Services provides services for students between the ages of 3 and 14 with special needs. All students with disabilities categorically eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), regardless of severity, may receive services. These include students with impairments in speech and language, hearing, health, and vision; developmental delays; emotional and learning disabilities; intellectual disabilities; autism; traumatic brain injury; multiple disabilities; and other health impairments. For more information, contact the Exceptional Student Services office at 928-502-7800.
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We offer services across the continuum from full inclusion in the general education classroom, to off-campus alternative setting, to homebound services. A team of individuals familiar with the student’s needs determines the least restrictive environment (LRE) for eligible students. Recognizing the goal to provide an integrated, inclusive learning community, we make best efforts to place students in their home school. If placement in the home school does not meet the needs of the student, we will provide transportation to the service school.
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Approximately 50 special education teachers and paraprofessionals provide service to our Exceptional Students. Specialists include our school psychologists and assistants, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. We also provided extended school year services when deemed appropriate.
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We offer preschool classes for eligible students from their third birthday to age five (prior to kindergarten). We determine eligibility based on a child’s developmental level by measuring for significant speech or language delays, moderate developmental delays, or severe developmental delays. Learn more on our Preschool page.
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Technology is important for students with special needs. We utilize iPads and computers to help students develop skills and to access our district’s digital content. Additionally, some students utilize highly specialized equipment for communication and literacy acquisition.
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We equip some of our classrooms with cooking and laundry facilities to help our students who need to learn basic independent living skills.
Destruction of Records
Special Education records are destroyed five (5) years after a student has withdrawn, transferred, graduated, or been exited from special education services at Yuma School District One. This year, we will be destroying the records of students who left the district or exited services in the 2020-2021 school year. All other records will continue to be maintained by the Exceptional Student Services department and are available upon request to a child’s legal guardian. If you are a parent or student and need a copy of your student’s special education records for any reason, please contact an ESS Data Technician: Emily Anguiano, Leslie Amezcua, Stephanie Hernandez, or Nataly Amezcua.
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The Exceptional Student Services Department (ESS) at Yuma School District One will identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities within its geographic boundaries who are in need of special education and related services.
Do you know a child who you suspect may have a disability or has trouble with any of the following?
- Seeing people or objects?
- Hearing voices or other sounds?
- Talking, or is hard to understand when they do talk?
- Moving, especially when crawling, walking or running?
- Playing or getting along with children or adults?
- Interacting appropriately with others?
- Cognitive or academic skills?
If you answered yes to one or more of these statements, District One can provide screenings for special services for all qualified children, from age 3 to 21, who reside in our district boundaries, including migrant and homeless students, wards of the state, private and home schooled students, in the following ways:
- For school age children, age 5–21, who are currently attending a District One school, contact the child’s school administrator.
- For children age 3 to 5 and whose 5th birthday is after September 1st and are not eligible for kindergarten, please contact the District One Preschool Department at 928-502-4412 or wmaldonado@yuma.org.
- For children younger than 3 years, services are available through the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) or 602-532-9960.
- For school age children, age 5–21, not attending a District One school but who reside within District One boundaries or attend a private school located within our boundaries, contact Exceptional Student Services at 928-502-7800.
Additional Resources
Arizona Department of Education – AZ Find
Arizona Department of Economic Security – Early Intervention Program – AzEIP
“Instruction does much, but encouragement does everything.”
- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe