It is the philosophy and position of the Board of Education and its administration that the primary responsibility of the District is to deliver special education programs and services to the students within the District to the extent appropriate to meet their individual educational needs.

Further, the Board endorses a commitment to the provision of a continuum of special education programs and services to disabled students in cooperation with the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District. Placement options shall follow a continuum of services model to ensure that each disabled person is provided a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). To that end, every attempt will be made to first serve disabled students in the context of a regular education classroom. Other more restrictive environments such as: resource rooms, self-contained categorical classrooms, or settings outside of a District school will be considered only after consideration has been given by the IEPC as to the feasibility of placement in the regular classroom.

Further, the Board endorses a program where disabled individuals receive their education in an age-appropriate environment unless such placement is found to be inappropriate.

IDEA, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.