The Department of Exceptional Student Education and Student Services continually strives to provide services and support to students and families by working together with our teachers, therapists, support personnel, administrators, and community partners.

The Exceptional Student Education and Student Services Department provides services to all Gadsden District Schools.  Services we provide include:

    RTI/MTSS guidance support
    Interventions
    Diagnostics
    Psychological Services
    Counseling (including Grief Counseling)
    Early Intervention

                Child Find (2-5 years-old)

                Screenings/Evaluations

                Developmentally/age-appropriate classes

    Parent Liaison
    Continuum of Specialized Instruction/Services

                Consultation

                Support Facilitation

                Resource Room

                Separate Class

                Separate Day School

                Hospital/Homebound

                Home Instruction

    Specialized Instruction Teachers
    Behavior Specialists
    Behavior Management Consultants
    Mental Health Counselors
    Paraprofessionals
    Speech/Language Pathologists
    Vision Specialist
    Occupational Therapists
    Physical Therapists
    Gifted Education Teacher(s)
    Employment Specialist(s)
    Transition Program (18-22 year-olds)
    Section 504 compliance
    Parent Education
    Staff Professional Development
    Regional LATS
    Attendance Intervention and Truancy Reduction Support
    Positive Behavior Intervention Plans

The evaluation procedures and measurements that are used to determine Gifted eligibility in Gadsden are in compliance and aligned with state criteria.  The student must demonstrate a need for a special program, demonstrate a majority of the characteristics of gifted students, and demonstrate superior intellectual development to meet the state's criteria for gifted eligibility, known as Plan A.  Gadsden also implements a District Plan B as an alternative plan to assist with increasing the participation of underrepresented groups: Limited English Proficient (LEP/ELL) and low socioeconomic status (SES), who may demonstrate a need for a special instructional program.  Under Plan B, the criteria allows for academic identification with a revised intellectual score.  However, students must still demonstrate gifted characteristics and a need for a special instructional program. 

Efforts are made to ensure that students enrolled in grades 1-12, who are identified as Gifted, are afforded an opportunity to participate in an academically rigorous and exciting curriculum. Students  receive either direct or consultation services at their enrolled school, including the district's charter school.  The goal is to provide a Gifted Program so that eligible students may participate in content/grade level curriculum acceleration, and access instruction that is designed to promote critical thinking, creativity, and leadership skills.

In essence, we are having an exceptionally enjoyable time educating our exceptional population!   For more information regarding Gifted Education, please visit the following websites:

Parents are involved in a data-based problem-solving process to address the student's academic or behavioral areas of concern.  Discussions are held with the parent regarding the data used to identify the problem, the plan for addressing the problem through interventions, the plan for monitoring student progress, the student's responses to instruction and interventions, modification of interventions when needed and anticipated future action to address the student's learning or behavioral needs.  The Documentation of parental involvement and communication is maintained.

The school district reviews social, psychological, medical, and anecdotal records and achievement data in the student's cumulative folder and demonstrates through data that the student was provided appropriate instruction in the regular education settings (which was delivered by qualified personnel).  Attendance records are reviewed and used as one indicator of a student's access to instruction.

~The school district implements evidenced-based interventions addressing the identified areas of concern in the general education environment.

~The interventions selected for implementation should be determined by a team through a data-based problem-solving process that uses student performance data to identify and analyze the area(s) of concern, select and implement interventions, monitor effectiveness of the interventions and modify intervention or intensity when needed.

~Interventions must be implemented as designed for a period of time sufficient to determine effectiveness, and with a level of intensity that matches the student's needs.

~The district must collect pre-intervention and ongoing progress-monitoring data regarding academic or behavioral areas of concern and communicate the data to the parents in an understandable format, which may include, but is not limited to, graphic representation.

~Not required for children younger than kindergarten entry age

~Not required for students suspected of being gifted as described in the Rule 6A-6.03019, F.A.C.

~Not required for students who are being considered for eligibility for specially designed instruction for students who are homebound or hospitalized as described in Rule 6A-6.03020, F.A.C.

~Not required for students who are not enrolled in a public school.

With education constantly evolving and autism on the rise (autism is said to now affect 1 in 43!), more and more teachers are welcoming into their classrooms students on the autism spectrum, according to Applied Behavior Analysis Program Guide. While teaching a child with autism may seem daunting, doing so can often prove to be one of the most rewarding parts of an educator’s career.  Please click the link located under Related Documents to Register.

Below is a list of currently available courses. Note: If you need in service credit to recertify by June 30th of the current year, please familiarize yourself with your district deadlines.