The mission of special education in our District is to facilitate appropriate education for students with diverse learning needs and abilities; this is accomplished through collaboration with general education to provide a continuum of services delivered in the least restrictive environment in partnership with families.

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act):  Entitles every student to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE) through their local school district from age 3 to age 21.  To ensure a FAPE, a team of professionals from the local educational agency meet with the student's parents to identify the student's unique educational needs, to develop annual goals for the student, and to determine the placement, program modification, testing accommodations, counseling, and other special services that the student needs.  These choices are recorded in a written Individualized Educational Program (IEP). The school is required to develop and implement an IEP that meets the standards of federal and state educational agencies.

The Iowa Administrative Rules of Special Education require each school district to develop a plan for the delivery of special education services. After a comprehensive revision process, the Iowa City Community School District Board of Directors adopted the current District Developed Service Delivery Plan on May 14, 2019.