Special Education - Sumner County Schools

Special Education

Supporting Every Learner, Every Day

Sumner County Schools is committed to providing individualized services and support that help students with disabilities reach their fullest potential. Through collaboration with families, educators, and specialized service providers, we work to create inclusive learning environments where every student can grow, achieve, and thrive.

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you have concerns about your child's learning, development, speech, behavior, or other educational needs, Sumner County Schools can help you determine the appropriate next step. Referral information is available for school-age students, private or home school students, preschool children, and children from birth to age 3.

View Referral Information

How Can We Help?

Explore services, programs, and resources available to support students and families throughout Sumner County Schools.

IEP

Individualized Education Programs

Learn more about IEPs, eligibility, services, and how individualized supports are developed for students.

Learn About IEPs ›

504

Section 504 Plans

Find information about accommodations and supports available to eligible students through Section 504.

Explore 504 Information ›

PreK

Developmental Pre-K

Learn about developmental services, referrals, evaluations, and support for eligible preschool-age children.

View Pre-K Information ›

G

Gifted Services

Explore information about gifted education, identification, eligibility, and services for qualifying students.

Explore Gifted Services ›

PSY

School Psychologists

Learn how school psychologists support evaluation, consultation, intervention, and student success.

Learn About Psychological Services ›

§

Policies & Parent Rights

Access procedural safeguards, policies, compliance information, and important resources for families.

View Policies & Rights ›

Suspect Your Child May Have a Disability?

If you have concerns that your child may have a disability and may need an evaluation or additional educational support, the appropriate next step depends on your child's age and current school enrollment.

Currently Enrolled

School-Age Children Enrolled in Sumner County Schools

If you suspect that your school-age child, currently enrolled in Sumner County Schools, may have a disability and requires an evaluation, please contact your child's teacher or the School Psychologist at their school.

View School Psychologist Information ›

Private or Home School

School-Age Children in Private or Home School

If you suspect that your school-age child, currently enrolled in a private school or home school, may have a disability and needs an evaluation, please call the Special Education Department to make a referral.

Call (615) 451-5414 ›

Ages 3–5

Pre-Kindergarten Children

If you suspect that your pre-kindergarten child may have a disability, Sumner County Schools provides referral, evaluation, and developmental services for eligible preschool-age children.

View Developmental Pre-K Information ›

Birth–36 Months

Children from Birth to 3 Years Old

If you believe your child, birth to 36 months, may have a disability and requires an evaluation, please contact Tennessee's Early Intervention System (TEIS). TEIS helps families connect with services for infants and toddlers with disabilities before they reach school age.

Call 1-800-852-7157 ›

Not sure which referral pathway applies? The Special Education Department can help families determine the appropriate next step.

Developmental Pre-K

Early Childhood Special Education provides individualized services and supports for eligible children ages 3–5 who are experiencing challenges in learning or development.

Concerned About Your Child's Development, Speech, or Language?

Child Find is the process of locating, identifying, and evaluating children who may have disabilities. Children with a suspected developmental delay or disability may be referred for an evaluation at no cost to determine eligibility for special education services.

To make a developmental or speech/language referral with Sumner County Schools, contact the Preschool Assessment Team.

Complete the Pre-K Referral Form Call (615) 451-6352

Eligibility

Preschool special education serves children ages 3–5 who meet established eligibility criteria for special education and related services.

Eligibility is determined using federal and state criteria.
Eligible children receive a free appropriate public education.
Services are provided in the least restrictive environment appropriate for the child.
Each eligible child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Parents, teachers, therapists, and school administrators collaborate as members of the IEP team.

Individualized Support

Early Childhood Special Education supports children through developmentally appropriate learning experiences that may include early literacy, math, play, communication, social development, and other areas of need.

Services are based on each child's individual needs and may be provided in a public school, community setting, or another environment determined by the child's IEP team.

Special education is a system of individualized services and supports, not simply a placement or classroom.

SCS Continuum of Services

Sumner County Schools provides a continuum of early childhood services designed to meet the individual needs of children ages 3–5 who have been identified with a disability that affects their education.

On-Site Speech & Language Therapy

Children with an identified speech and/or language impairment may receive speech-language therapy services in small-group settings.

Beech Elementary
J.W. Wiseman Elementary
Shalom Zone
Westmoreland Elementary

Integrated & Developmental Pre-K Classrooms

Integrated classrooms provide special education services alongside typically developing peers, while developmental classrooms provide more intensive direct special education services. Attendance and length of day vary according to each student's individual services.

Beech Elementary
Benny Bills Elementary
H.B. Williams Elementary
Howard Elementary
George Whitten Elementary
Guild Elementary
J.W. Wiseman Elementary
Lakeside Park Elementary
Millersville Elementary
Nannie Berry Elementary
Portland Gateview Elementary
Station Camp Elementary
Vena Stuart Elementary
Westmoreland Elementary

Gifted Services

Developing Gifted Potential into Performance

Sumner County Schools is committed to providing opportunities that nurture, challenge, and develop the potential of gifted learners through differentiated instruction and programming.

Gifted learners have unique educational needs. Sumner County Schools provides a continuum of services designed to strengthen critical, conceptual, and abstract thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and academic growth.

Our Philosophy

Intellectually gifted students may learn at a faster pace, demonstrate broad interests, possess a greater capacity to learn material, and think with greater depth about what they are learning.

Our Mission

Our mission is to guide gifted learners to realize and utilize their potential.

Our Vision

Our vision is to meet the needs of gifted learners, all day, every day.

Gifted Services

Opportunities for gifted learners are provided in accordance with each student's intellectual abilities and academic aptitudes as determined by the student's IEP team.

Services are designed to provide appropriate academic challenge while supporting the individual educational needs of gifted students.

Program Goals

Develop critical, conceptual, and abstract thinking within content areas.
Develop creative problem-solving within content areas.
Promote positive affective development.

Questions About Gifted Services?

Families should contact their child's Gifted Itinerant Teacher for additional information about gifted services.

Karah Lewis
Consulting Teacher for Gifted Services
Pupil Services, Sumner County Schools
695 E. Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066
(615) 451-5414

Understanding IEPs & 504 Plans

Both IEPs and Section 504 Plans support eligible students with disabilities, but they serve different purposes. Understanding the basics can help families better participate in conversations about their child's educational needs.

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

Specialized instruction, services, and supports

An Individualized Education Program, or IEP, is developed for a student who qualifies for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The IEP is created collaboratively by a team that includes the student's family and school personnel and is designed around the student's individual educational needs.

An IEP may address:

Present levels of academic and functional performance
Individual learning goals
Special education services
Related services and accommodations
How progress toward goals will be measured
Behavioral supports, when needed
Additional supports necessary for educational success

Key idea: An IEP provides an individualized program that may include specialized instruction, services, accommodations, and measurable educational goals.

Section 504 Plans

Accommodations that support equal access

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal civil rights law that protects eligible students with disabilities and helps ensure equal access to educational programs and activities.

A 504 Plan may be appropriate for an eligible student who needs accommodations or supports to access education but does not require specialized instruction through an IEP.

Examples of accommodations may include:

Extended time on tests or assignments
Preferential seating
Assistive technology
Behavioral supports
Adjustments to the learning environment
Other accommodations based on the student's individual needs

Key idea: A 504 Plan focuses on accommodations and supports that allow an eligible student equal access to school programs and educational opportunities.

What Is the Difference?

Both plans are individualized to the student. The appropriate process and supports are determined based on the student's needs and eligibility requirements.

IEP

May include specialized instruction, related services, accommodations, measurable goals, and progress monitoring.

504 Plan

Provides accommodations and supports designed to ensure equal access to educational programs and activities.

Individualized

Neither plan is one-size-fits-all. Supports are determined according to each eligible student's individual needs.

Have concerns about your child's educational needs? Families of students enrolled in Sumner County Schools should begin by contacting their child's teacher or School Psychologist.

School Psychological Services

School psychologists support students, families, teachers, and school teams by combining expertise in psychology and education to help address academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and educational needs.

School psychologists work within the school setting to support student success through assessment, consultation, intervention, educational planning, and collaboration with families and school personnel.

1

Promote Quality Education

Support educational opportunities and positive outcomes for all students.

2

Advocate for Students

Help ensure that student needs are understood and considered throughout the educational process.

3

Support Student Well-Being

Promote social-emotional and behavioral well-being within the school environment.

How School Psychologists Support Students & Schools

School psychologists provide a wide range of services to students, families, educators, administrators, and school teams.

Student Assessment

Evaluate academic, intellectual, perceptual, social-emotional, and behavioral functioning when appropriate.

Educational Planning

Help identify student needs and assist school teams in planning appropriate educational programs and supports.

Consultation & Collaboration

Work with parents, teachers, administrators, and other professionals to strengthen services and supports for students.

Behavioral Support

Assist with behavioral interventions, behavior management plans, and strategies designed to support student success.

Crisis Planning

Support schools and student teams in the development of crisis management plans when needed.

Procedural Support

Assist teachers and administrators with special education procedures, compliance, and procedural safeguards.

Need to Speak With a School Psychologist?

If you have questions for a school psychologist, please contact your child's school. Families who suspect that their child may have a disability may also begin by speaking with their child's teacher or the School Psychologist assigned to the school.

Find Your Child's School

Resources, Records & Parent Rights

Access important information, tools, records assistance, and resources related to special education services in Sumner County Schools.

Procedural Safeguards & Parent Rights

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides important protections and procedural safeguards for students with disabilities and their families. The Notice of Procedural Safeguards explains parental rights related to areas such as evaluations, consent, educational placement, dispute resolution, confidentiality, and other protections under federal and state special education law.

View Tennessee Procedural Safeguards ›