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Since 1969 the Delta-Schoolcraft I.S.D. has provided leadership ensuring that quality and comprehensive Special Education programs and services are available to children with disabilities throughout Delta and Schoolcraft Counties.  These programs and services are offered cooperatively with the local school districts within the two county area.

 Special Education Continuum - In order to meet the individual needs of all children with special needs, the Delta-Schoolcraft I.S.D. provides a variety of optional programs in cooperation with its local districts.  These programs range from full inclusion models to a specialized, separate school.  Over 1,200 children are receiving regularly scheduled services in programs staffed by fully approved personnel.

Early-On -The I.S.D. Serves as lead agency in this coordinated human services program providing services to infants, toddlers and their families.  An Individualized Family Service Plan is provided for eligible families ensuring early intervention services designed to address needs and enhance existing skills of the child and family.  This program involves Pathways and Hiawatha Behavioral Health , Public Health Services, the Family Independence Agency, Head Start and other private and public human service providers. 

Pre-School - Pre-primary programming is provided for children in the three year to five year age group.   This center-based program is operated for preschoolers with significant skill training needs.  This program enhances children's opportunities for integration when they are of school age.

Home Based Instructional Services - Professionals visit homes to provide instructional and therapeutic services for pre-school children with disabilities throughout the district.  Local pre-schools and Head Start programs are also visited by professional staff who may provide instructional and/or therapeutic support. 

Support Services - The assurance of quality instruction depends on a strong support system.  Examples of support services offered by the Delta-Schoolcraft I.S.D. are:

-Classroom instruction for students who are moderately and severely impaired plus life skill transition    programming

-Private contracted transportation

-Diagnostic services, i.e. school psychologists, school social workers, teacher consultants, speech therapists, and behavioral consultants

-Occupational therapy

-Physical therapy - contracted with private providers

-Visually impaired services

-Autism consultation - contracted with private provider

-Medical assessments and consultations - contracted with private providers

-Audiological assessments - contracted with private providers

-Vocational assessments - internal evaluator and external with contracted providers

-Homebound and hospitalized services

-Adaptive physical education

-Legal services - retainer with law firm providing legal services via the I.S.D. to all its local districts

-Administrative services and consultation

-Orientation and mobility specialist services - contracted with private provider

Medical Assessment - services are contracted out to private providers.  Following payments from third party payees, the I.S.D. assumes the balance of payment.  The I.S.D. and LEA's are approved Medicaid providers through School Based (fee for service) and Administrative Outreach Service programs.

Staffing - diagnostic and support staff are available to local districts thus providing services which would be financially impossible for each local to secure and maintain.

Transportation - private contracted services for severely impaired students are provided and coordinated with local districts ensuring cost effective, efficient and safe service.

Staff development - skill development training for all local districts.

Technology - to provide state-of-the-art technology, costly training and purchase of equipment is necessary.  "Quality training of few to serve many," is our goal with advanced technology.  Specialized equipment is bid out and then inventoried and shared when on longer needed by its original source.

Equity - The Delta-Schoolcraft I.S.D. ensures that all students, regardless of where they live, are provided equitable educational services because an intermediary source is there to spread the availability of resources.

Liability - through administrative consultation, legal advice, monitoring of programs, and guidelines, costly litigation as a result of non-compliance with mandated programs is often avoided by the local school district.

Cost containment - The Delta-Schoolcraft I.S.D. is dedicated to finding the most efficient, financially manageable means of providing quality special education services.  At times this may mean directly operating services for local districts, contracting with private providers, or coordinating services with existing providers ensuring the avoidance of costly duplication of services.