Special Education
Lowndes County Schools' Department of Special Education, under the direction of Mindell Downing, s
erves students with a variety of disabilities ages 3 through 21. Student Support Services and Special Education staff consist of teachers in general curriculum and adapted special education curriculum, paraprofessionals, preschool teachers, Speech and Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, School Psychologists, School Social Workers, Homeless Liaison, Coordinators, Administrative Assistant, and Director. Lowndes County Schools offers a continuum of services for students with disabilities. We strive to meet the individual needs of our students in a variety of settings and instructional models.
Lowndes County Schools offers a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to all children, ages 3-21, who reside within school system boundaries and who are identified as having a disability. If it is suspected that a student may have a disability and scientific research based interventions have been used, an appropriate evaluation is completed by Lowndes County Schools, with the consent of the parent/guardian. After the evaluation is complete, a placement committee meets to review a wide array of data and determine if the child is a student with a disability based on Georgia Rules and Regulations. If the child qualifies for Special Education services and the parent/guardian consent to services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed.