Special Education

Welcome to Duluth Public Schools, Special Education!

Duluth Public Schools is dedicated to identifying, locating and evaluating students with suspected special education needs from birth to age 21. Eligible students with disabilities will be provided with a free and appropriate public education consistent with the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Special education programming is provided for students with the following disabilities: 

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Deaf-Blind
• Deaf or Hard of Hearing
• Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
• Developmental Cognitive Disability
• Developmental Delay
• Other Health Disabilities
• Physically Impaired
• Severely Multiply Impaired
• Specific Learning Disability
• Speech or Language Impairments
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visually Impaired

We offer the full continuum of service delivery models ranging from itinerant services to fully self-contained programming at all three academic levels (elementary, middle school, high school).

Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) provides individually tailored programs for children with identified areas of need or disabilities from birth through six years of age. These services include: screening, identification, evaluation, special education, related services and support for families. An individualized educational plan is written for children who qualify for services. Services are provided in home, community, and classroom settings and are free of charge to families.