Children with speech and language problems, learning disabilities and autism are receiving different education than they used to get.

Special education is not only more individualized now, but it is also more integrated with general education programs in local school districts. Parents also get more assistance for their children’s education.

The Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV is one driving force behind these changes.

The MIU IV provides leadership, programs, services and resources to address a wide variety of school needs in the 27 member school districts in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

According to Toby Woodward, director of special education at MIU IV, this includes guidance for special education and help for carrying out and meeting state and federal education laws and instructions.

But there is more. The intermediate unit also helps parents understand special education so their children get a good education.

“Districts are required to publish information about all their programs and processes on an annual basis,” said Woodward.

“Most districts have a process in place to identify when students are struggling.”

Each year, school districts publish information about special education programs, often on their websites.

“We are doing better at building-wide assessments to see where students are and when students are lacking in certain skills,” said Woodward.

She said one assessment used is the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). This assessment is for individual pupils in kindergarten through 6th grade. It measures skills children need early in their schooling.

Results on assessments help schools decide whether a child should be evaluated further.

If more evaluation shows that a child is eligible for special education, a multidisciplinary team within the school district develops an individualized education program, or IEP.

“The school district makes the plan based on the evaluation and the needs identified,” said Woodward. “It is a team process and the parent is integral.”

The IEP is extensive. It includes measurable goals for the pupil. It defines what support, services and accommodations the child will receive and how the team will assess progress, according to Woodward.

School districts cover the cost of special education. Children as young as kindergarten-age may have IEPs but other pupils may be identified for special education in later grades.

The IEP team for each student is required to meet once a year.

“However, they can meet at any time there is a question or concern,” said Woodward.

Another requirement for the team is to give reports to families as often as there are report cards.

When a student turns 14, IEP goals begin to prepare the student for skills needed after graduation. At that point, Woodward said, the student becomes involved in the team.

“They participate in their meeting and we try to work with them and try to hear their thoughts,” Woodward said. “What are their goals and what they would like to experience?”

For example, during the discussion the student might be asked whether they want to do some job shadowing or whether they are thinking about going to college or the military or technical school or whether they plan to go to work.

Woodward said MIU IV provides some other assistance directly to parents.

For example, MIU IV has a Local Task Force on the Right to Education. Parents, educators and agencies participate in the monthly task force meetings. Woodward said the topics of the meetings vary. “We encourage parent participation,” she said.

A parent also can contact the task force with questions and concerns. Sometimes the task force designates someone with expertise to go with a parent to an IEP meeting.

Woodward mentioned Parent to Parent of Pennsylvania as a useful free and confidential state-funded program. Parents can contact the program directly.

Parent to Parent provides resources and can link the parent to a support group or to a volunteer for individual peer support.

“The intermediate unit also gets questions from parents who are unhappy or frustrated,” said Woodward. “We work with them to make connections to their home school district.”

Woodward noted a parent can ask the MIU IV for a preschool developmental screening for her child. The screening assesses how a child uses large and small muscles as well as the child’s thinking, speaking, language use and understanding, vision and hearing. If the screening uncovers areas of concern, there might be more evaluation.

When appropriate, the child may receive help from MIU IV’s early intervention program for children ages 3 to 5. It fosters development within the child’s and parent’s normal routines.

For children younger than 3, MIU IV can provide a referral to a designated agency for an appropriate screening for very young children. In Butler County, Lifesteps is one of these agencies. Services for these very young children are state-funded.

Woodward said there is increased effort to align special education as closely as possible to the general education class content and standards.

“We are still trying to give the rigor and content so they are being exposed to the same things the other students are,” said Woodward.

“We make sure we provide services to students in the least restrictive environment,” she said. “There is much more layering of support so they can stay in with their peers.”

This support goes beyond those students with IEPs. Other children also may get extra attention at school, for example, for academics or social/emotional support.

“There are many children in school systems that receive additional help who are not considered special education,” said Woodward. “There are many other supports provided to students on a daily basis that are apart from special education.”

Woodward offered this guidance for parents: “If your child is struggling over time in some of their course content in school, and the school district has been layering some additional supports and you’re still not seeing growth or limited growth or the child is frustrated doing homework, those would be red flags.”