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Portales Municipal School District

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Special Student Services

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Director of Special Student Services - Cheri Jackson

(575) 359-3707 fax# (575) 356-6682

Special Education Services

Special Student Services provides crucial support for students aged 3 to 21 who qualify for special education under IDEA-B federal regulations and the New Mexico Public Education Department's criteria. Our team is dedicated to assisting families in navigating the special education process and ensuring that children with disabilities receive the specialized instruction they need.

With a highly qualified staff, we are committed to delivering high-quality services tailored to each student's unique needs. We collaborate with parents, teachers, and school administrators to implement effective special education programs across the Portales Municipal Schools District. Our specialized team conducts comprehensive evaluations, develops Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and consults with Student Assistance Teams while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws.

Our range of special education services includes consultation, direct support in general education classrooms, targeted pullout programs, and small group self-contained classrooms with individualized instruction and curriculum adjustments.

Child Find Resources

Ongoing Child Find screening is for students ages 3-21 years old whom parents suspect may have a developmental delay in the areas of speech, vision and hearing, behavior, or understanding, If you have concerns about your child's development in any of these areas, please contact us to make an appointment or to discuss options available to you for early intervention.

 

Special Education Records Request:

Phone: (575) 359-3707  –  Fax: (575) 356-6982

 

Special Education Ombud

The Office of the Special Education Ombud provides comprehensive information, resources, and support to public school students and families navigating the special education system in New Mexico.

Gifted Education

Students are identified through universal screening by the end of 3rd grade, a referral process, evaluation, and identification. The process uses multiple sources of quantitative and qualitative data.

According to the New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC), a ‘gifted student’ is defined as “a person between the ages of five and 21 whose abilities, talents, or potential for accomplishment are so exceptional or developmentally advanced that they require special provisions to meet their educational programming needs. Students may qualify for gifted education services based on their abilities in the areas of general intellectual ability, creative or divergent thinking, problem-solving or critical thinking, specific aptitude or achievement, artistic ability, or leadership ability”.

Parents can request a referral for gifted testing at their child’s school. The requests can only occur during this specified window: January 1 – March 15.

Parent Resources