Special Education

South St. Paul Public Schools provides opportunities for all learners. Through talented and caring staff, robust assistive technologies and a supportive community, we strive for excellence in meeting the needs of your child.

Special Education services are provided in the disability areas of:

Autism Spectrum Disorders
Blind-Visually Impaired
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Deaf-Blind
Developmental Cognitive Disabilities
Developmental Delay
Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
Other Health Disabilities
Physically Impaired
Severely Multiply Impaired
Specific Learning Disabilities
Speech or Language Impairments
Traumatic Brain Injury
Related Services: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Developmental Adaptive Physical Education

School Psychologists

SSPPS School Psychologists work as the lead of the multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) model at each school. They ensure assessment practices are applied across all levels of the system for a deeper understanding of each student’s needs for academic and social-emotional success. They work closely with staff, students, and families to conduct special education evaluation and support teachers in addressing needs of students who may have a disability.

Parent Procedural Safeguards

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 C.F.R. Part 104) is a federal civil rights statute that assures individuals will not be discriminated against for their disability. All school districts that receive federal funding are responsible for the implementation of this law. This law protects a student with an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, whether the student receives special education services or not.

Examples of physical or mental impairments that may be covered under Section 504 include: epilepsy, AIDS, allergies, vision impairment, broken limbs, cancer, diabetes, asthma, temporary condition due to accidents or illness, ADD/ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, depression, intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Examples of major life activities that can be affected by the student's disability include: learning, thinking, concentrating, reading, speaking, walking, breathing, sleeping, caring for oneself, as well as major bodily functions, including brain function, immune system function, or digestive functions. This is not an exhaustive list.

MN Department of Education Section 504 Information

Notice of Parent/Student Rights

Frequently Asked Questions

Section 504 Coordinators

Jennifer Danielson
Executive Director of Student Services
651-552-5594
jdanielson@sspps.org

High School

Paige Levendusky
High School Counselor
(Last Names A-K)
plevendusky@sspps.org

Jelena Maric
High School Counselor
(Last Names L-Z)
jmaric@sspps.org

Anna Randt
CLC
arandt @sspps.org

Middle School

Shannon Smith
Middle School Counselor
(Last Names A-K)
ssmith@sspps.org

Shannon Smith
Middle School Counselor
(Last Names L-Z)
ssmith@sspps.org

Kaposia Education Center

Kori Charbonneau
School Counselor
kcharbonneau@sspps.org

Lincoln Center Elementary

Heather Gysbers
School Counselor
hgysbers@sspps.org

Restrictive Procedures

In accordance with Minn. Stat. §§ 125A.094 and 125A.0942, every school district is required to develop and make publicly accessible in an electronic format on a school or district website or make a paper copy available upon request a plan that discloses its use of restrictive procedures with special education students. The plan must list the restrictive procedures that the school district intends to use; describe how the school district will implement a range of positive behavior strategies and provide links to mental health services, describe how the school district will monitor and review the use of restrictive procedures, including post-use debriefings and convening an oversight committee to undertake a quarterly review of the use of restrictive procedures based on patterns or problems indicated by similarities in the time of day, day of the week, duration of the use of a procedure, the individuals involved, or other factors associated with the use of restrictive procedures, the number of times a restrictive procedures is used schoolwide and for individual children the number and types of injuries, if any, resulting from the use of restrictive procedures, whether restrictive procedures are used in nonemergency situations, the need for additional staff training, and proposed actions to minimize the use of restrictive procedures; and includes a written description and documentation of the training any staff members who will be using restrictive procedures have completed to show they have the skills set out in Minn. Stat.

The SSPPS Restrictive Procedures Oversight Committee meets quarterly.

Jennifer Danielson, Director of Student Services
Terry Bretoi, Kaposia Education Center Principal
Carole Pankow, Special Education Teacher, Certified CPI and Ukeru Trainer
Susan Bergquist, School Psychologist

District Restrictive Procedures Plan

Third Party Reimbursement

Minnesota Law (M.SS.125A.21) requires that school districts seek reimbursement from private and public health insurers for the cost of health-related services provided to students who receive special education services. If your child receives health-related services as part of their IEP, IFSP or IIIP, a member of your child's team may ask your permission to share information with your insurer and/or physician in order to bill for these services. Health-related services are developmental, corrective and supportive services that are required in order for a student to benefit from their program of specialized instruction. Health-related services include supports such as:

Diagnosis, evaluation and assessment
Speech, physical and occupational therapies
Audiology
Paraprofessional/personal care assistant (PCA) services
Mental health services
Transportation
Health services such as nursing

Third Party Reimbursement Public Information:
If your child is evaluated for special education, District 006 will share your child’s name and date of birth with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to find out if your child is on Medical Assistance. If you do not want the district to share your child’s name and date of birth with DHS please let us know in writing before the evaluation begins. Send your request to South St. Paul Special Education Department, 104 Fifth Avenue South, South St. Paul, MN 55075.

Click here for more information regarding MA Reimbursement from the Minnesota Department of Education.

Consent to Seek Reimbursement for a Student with an IEP

Consent to See Reimbursement for a Student with an IFSP

Contact Information

Barb Heitzig
Student Services Administrative Assistant
bheitzig@sspps.org