Special Education

Special Education

Lowndes County Schools' Department of Special Education, under the direction of Mindell Downing, 
Mindell Downing
serves students with a variety of disabilities ages 3 through 21. Student Support Services and Special Education staff consist of teachers in the general curriculum and adapted special education curriculum, paraprofessionals, preschool teachers, Speech and Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, School Psychologists, 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 consents to services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed. 
At each school, an administrator is assigned to special education and should be the first point of contact if you have student specific questions.
If a child residing in the Lowndes County School district who is suspected of having a disability but is not a student, the parent/guardian can contact the special education department at the Central Office for guidance. The process will be explained to the parent, some documentation will be requested and the child may be referred for an evaluation. 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 consents to services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed.