Bellingham Public Schools proudly serves students with disabilities birth through age 21. We strive to give all our students love, care and great teaching. We build skills that allow each student to discover and develop a passion, contribute to our community and live a fulfilling, productive life.
- What is Special Education?
- Getting Started
- Our Special Education Programs
- Notice of Special Education Procedural Safeguards for Students and Families
- State and Federal Resources
- Resources for Families
What is Special Education?
Special Education is specialized instruction for students age Birth to 21 who qualify according to the laws and regulations outlined by state and federal government. A student may qualify for services in one of the areas as identified by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The following definitions are from the U.S. Department of Education website.
- Autism
- Communication Disorders
- Deafness
- Deaf-Blindness
- Developmental Delay
- Emotional/Behavioral Disability
- Health Impairment
- Hearing Impairment
- Intellectual Disability
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Specific Learning Disability
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairment
- The IDEA’s Disability Terms and Definitions
Getting Started
The district participates in “child find” – awareness and screening activities for the purpose of locating, identifying and evaluating children who are suspected of having disabilities and who may be in need of special education services. A student may also be referred for a special education evaluation by any source, including parents. The referral is to be made in writing and submitted to the building principal or designee.
The Special Education Process
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Special Education? (from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction [ OSPI] website)
- How does Special Education work? (from the OSPI website)
- What to do if you think your student needs Special Education services? (from the OSPI website)
- How does your student qualify for Special Education? (from the OSPI website)
Special Education in Bellingham
Our district determines the supports and services for each child’s unique needs through the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process. Each of the program outlines described below are flexible, dependent on the needs of the student, and may include related or supplementary aids and services. All students are meaningfully included in general education to the maximum extent possible.
- Birth to 2: Bellingham Public Schools partners with community agencies to provide early intervention services through the Department of Early Learning (DEL) Early Supports for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. Children ages birth through 2 who have delays in their development or have a physical or mental condition that is known to cause a delay in development may be eligible for early intervention services. These services are provided in a child’s natural environment, which may include their home or childcare program.
- Preschool: Early childhood preschool programs provide a language-based curriculum to students ages 3-4 with developmental delays. Preschool programs are based in the following locations:
Alderwood Elementary
Birchwood Elementary
CordataElementary
Geneva Elementary
Happy Valley Elementary
Northern Heights Elementary
Sunnyland Elementary
Sehome High School
- Resource: Students receiving resource supports are provided with specially designed instruction in the areas in which they qualify based upon their evaluation within their least restrictive environment. Access to resource services can be found in all elementary, middle and high schools.
- Life Skills: Students receiving services from the Life Skills program are provided with specially designed instruction in the areas in which they qualify based upon their evaluation within their least restrictive environment. Areas of focus include functional reading, writing and math; adaptive skills; social skills; communication; and motor skills. Students receive inclusion opportunities with their peers to the greatest extent possible based on their current level of functioning. Access to Life Skills services can be found in the following schools:
Carl Cozier Elementary
Columbia Elementary
Cordata Elementary
Wade King Elementary
Fairhaven Middle
KulshanMiddle
Shuksan Middle
Bellingham High
Sehome High
Squalicum High
- BRIDGES (Behavior Re-Education in Developing Growth and Emotional Strength): Students receiving services from a BRIDGES program are provided with specially designed instruction in the areas in which they qualify based upon their evaluation within their least restrictive environment. Services from BRIDGES include access to academic curriculum within a structured behavior management system. Students receive inclusion opportunities with their peers to the greatest extent possible based on their current level of functioning. Access to services from a BRIDGES program can be found in the following schools:
Parkview Elementary
Lowell Elementary
Whatcom Middle
Squalicum High
- AIMS (Access in the Mainstream Setting): AIMS provides teacher training, consultation and trained paraprofessionals to selected elementary classrooms to support small groups of students with high functioning autism and related needs. AIMS support in selected general education classrooms is based in the following schools:
Northern Heights Elementary
Silver Beach Elementary
Sunnyland Elementary
Wade King Elementary
- Community Transitions: Community Transitions is a post high school program that serves students 18-21 years of age who qualify through their evaluation to receive transition services. Students often encounter a new set of adult challenges which require different responses as they leave the high school setting. CT provides a full continuum of services intended to prepare students for a successful transition to independent living, employment and/or post-secondary training. Supports are individualized based on the student’s need. Staff, parents and the adult student work as a team to create and nurture partnerships with adult services, college staff and businesses in the local community to identify the best place to maximize each individual student’s potential for success.
State and Federal Resources
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction – Special Education (OSPI)
Washington State Resources for Parents of Children and Youth with Disabilities
- Developmental Disability Administration
- Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) – Department of Children, Youth and Families
- Guidance for Families – Special Education in Washington State (OSPI website)
- LD Online (LD = Learning Disabilities)
- Northwest Educational Service District 189
- Office of Education Omsbud
- Opportunity Council
- Parent to Parent of Whatcom County
- Single Entry Access to Services
- Special Education Technology Center
- Special Olympics – Whatcom County
- The Arc of Whatcom County
- Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families
- Whatcom Center For Early Learning
- Whatcom Taking Action – Community Services
- Assistive Technology Resources
- Max Higbee Center After School Program
Continuing Education Opportunities
- Special Education Technology Center
- Northwest Educational Service District 189
- IEP 101 for Families
- Paraeducator Trainings
Special Education Office Staff
Director: Mike Haberman, (360) 676-6458
Administrative Assistants: Deanna Bannerman (360) 676-6458
Assistant Directors: Bethany Verner and Analisa Ficklin (360) 676-6458
Administrative Assistant: Joy Rawls (360) 676-6470 ext. 2042
Special Education Records Requests
Please fax requests to 360-676-2692 or email BPS.Spedrecords@BellinghamSchools.org