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Special Education

Special School District

The Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD) provides special education services and career and technical education for the Mehlville School District. SSD, the largest specialized education provider in the state, equips and empowers students of all learning abilities to excel to their greatest potential. This is realized through an inclusive, collaborative approach, supported by comprehensive resources and deep expertise - all centered on each student’s unique needs.

SSD provides special education services to students in a variety of placements, which are governed by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Services are based entirely on a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

More than 97 percent of students who receive services from SSD staff attend a school in the school district in which they live. This means that the vast majority of special education services provided by SSD are delivered by SSD staff in 265 schools in 22 public school districts in St. Louis County. 

To learn more about Mehlville and SSD’s partnership, please visit SSD’s partner district website.

Important links

Public Notice: Services & Rights for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities have rights and safeguards under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students who qualify as a person with a disability are protected from discrimination and are guaranteed a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to ensure equal opportunity to access and derive meaningful benefits from public education, as compared to non-disabled peers.

Children under Mehlville School District’s jurisdiction, including students attending non-public schools, between the ages of 3 and 21 may be eligible for special education and related services. The Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD) provides special education and related services (e.g., physical and occupational therapy, speech and language services, social work services, psychological counseling) for students ages 5-21 qualifying as a person with a disability under the IDEA. Mehlville School District provides special education and related services (e.g., physical and occupational therapy, speech and language services, social work services, psychological counseling) for children ages 3-5 qualifying as a person with a disability under the IDEA. Mehlville School District implements the provisions of Section 504.

Mehlville School District and SSD share the responsibility of locating, evaluating, and identifying children with disabilities under the IDEA, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children (e.g., migrant, homeless), children who are wards of the state, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. Disabilities include Autism, Deaf/Blindness, Emotional Disturbance, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairments, Specific Learning Disabilities, Speech and/or Language Impairments, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment/Blindness, and Young Child with Developmental Delay. Parents/guardians may refer a child for an evaluation by contacting the school staff (e.g., principal, assistant principal, school counselor) and are entitled to written notification regarding proposed or refused evaluation and placement decisions.

All students with disabilities are served in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and attend Mehlville School District schools unless determined otherwise by the IEP or 504 team. The disabilities teams are charged with determining the necessary services, accommodations, modifications, related aids and adaptive equipment to ensure FAPE. The opportunity to participate in the Mehlville School District curriculum, extracurricular activities, earn credits, and obtain a high school diploma is available to all students.

Mehlville School District and SSD assures the provision of information and referral services necessary to assist the State Education Department in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps Program.

Mehlville School District and SSD provide that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the districts for the identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE under the IDEA and Section 504 may be inspected and reviewed by parents/guardians. Additionally, parents/guardians may request an amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the MO Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

A Local Compliance Plan is in effect to ensure implementation of the state regulations for the IDEA. The plan contains the policies and procedures of Mehlville School District and SSD regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agencies' assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act.

The rights of students with disabilities are further explained in the State Plan for Special Education from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and various Mehlville School District Board Policies.

To review the plan or obtain this notice in an alternate language, contact the Mehlville School District Student Services Department at 314-467-5229 or SSD at 314-989-8100.

For more information about special education services for children ages 3-5, call 314-467-5300.

For more information about special education services for those ages 5-21, contact your child's principal or call 314-989-8100.