Special Education is referred to as “specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.”  The East Troy Community School District provides a wide range of services and supports to meet these unique needs.  Our Special Education staff consists of ten special education teachers, three speech language pathologists, three school psychologists, fourteen paraprofessionals and an Occupational Therapist.  A Physical Therapist also provides services through the Walworth County Children with Disabilities Education Board (WCCDEB).  The Cooperative Education Service Agency 2 (CESA 2) provides supports and services for students with “low incidence” disabilities such as vision and hearing impairments.   

Our special education team is proud to offer several unique learning opportunities for students with disabilities.  Life Skills classes at the primary and secondary levels help students learn to be independent by practicing safety, shopping, cleaning, cooking and other independent living skills.  Read180 is a researched-based intervention where middle and high school students receive small group instruction and individualized computerized lessons to improve reading skills.  For our youngest learners (ages 3 and 4), speech-language therapists provide individualized or small group instruction twice weekly in Phonology Group.  Students who participate in this group learn the relationships between letter sounds, word sounds and speech through games, stories songs and hands on activities.

There are many other opportunities available to students with disabilities in the East Troy Community School District.  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires districts to provide each child with a disability Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  In East Troy, we work hard to ensure students with disabilities have the same access to all of the curricular and extra-curricular opportunities as their non-disabled peers.  To discuss further special education services in the East Troy Community School District, please feel free to contact Katherine Lieske Harder, Director of Special Education.

Finding Children with Special Needs

What is Child Find?

Child Find is a continuous process of public awareness activities, screening and evaluation designed to locate, identify, and refer all young children with disabilities and their families who may be in need of early intervention programs or special education as early as possible.  In Wisconsin, children from birth to 3 years of age may qualify for early intervention programs, which are operated by county Birth to 3 programs.  Children ages 3 to 21 may qualify for special education provided by local school districts.

Why is Child Find necessary? 

Screening all children provides parents and professionals with information on whether a child's development is similar to children of the same age.  The purpose of Child Find for children ages 3-21 is to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to free, appropriate public education including special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.

Who is covered by Child Find?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires all states to have policies and procedures in effect to ensure that all children who are in need of special education and related services are identified, located, and evaluated.  Wisconsin Child Find applies to all children who reside in the State.  Screenings and evaluations for special education and related services are free of charge to parents or legal guardians.

Who should I contact if I suspect a child has a disability?

Please contact Jennifer Marcinkevic by calling 262-642-6720 x 3230.

Speech & Language Pathologists

The East Troy Community School District offers speech and language services to pre-school and school age learner's who qualify as an individual with a communication disability, through the criteria established by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).