As a department, we are committed to reversing the trend of isolation and segregation of students with disabilities by ensuring all students have access to high quality instruction responsive to their needs and delivered by effective and culturally responsive educators within the Least Restrictive Environment. Our primary focus is to build capacity and to support staff members district wide to ensure effective instruction is the predictor of student outcomes.

IEP teams determine a student’s educational placement. Once the IEP team determines the type of educational placement, a location (or school site) is selected for the student. Selection of a school site is an administrative decision. While it is the PPS Special Education Department's mission to keep students in the Least Restrictive Environment, the school district must provide a continuum of alternative placements to meet the needs of students with disabilities for special education and related services.