Special Education

Our Special Education Department collaborates with parents, staff, students, and a variety of programs throughout the Moriarty-Edgewood School District. We ensure that all our learners are provided a safe and appropriate education. We guide our students towards positive social, academic, and behavioral outcomes through carefully planned instruction to meet each individual's unique needs. We provide Student Assistance Teams, Response to Intervention, Section 504, Special Education, Gifted Education, Mental Health and Social Work Services, Nursing, Assistive Technology, and various therapies to help each child aptly obtain their personal best in the educational setting.

MESD Special Education Procedures

MESD Special Education Professional Ethical Principles

We are committed to upholding and advancing the following principles:

Maintaining challenging expectations for individuals with exceptionalities to develop the highest possible learning outcomes and quality of life potential in ways that respect their dignity, culture, language, and background.
Maintaining a high level of professional competence and integrity and exercising professional judgment to benefit individuals with exceptionalities and their families.
Promoting meaningful and inclusive participation of individuals with exceptionalities in their schools and communities.
Practicing collegially with others who are providing services to individuals with exceptionalities.
Developing relationships with families based on mutual respect and actively involving families and individuals with exceptionalities in educational decision making.
Using evidence, instructional data, research and professional knowledge to inform practice.
Protecting and supporting the physical and psychological safety of individuals with exceptionalities.
Neither engaging in nor tolerating any practice that harms individuals with exceptionalities.
Practicing within the professional ethics, standards, and policies of CEC; upholding laws, regulations, and policies that influence professional practice; and advocating improvements in laws, regulations, and policies.
Advocating for professional conditions and resources that will improve learning outcomes of individuals with exceptionalities.
Engaging in the improvement of the profession through active participation in professional organizations.
Participating in the growth and dissemination of professional knowledge and skills.

Professional special educators in MESD(*) are guided by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) professional, ethical principles and practice standards in ways that respect the diverse characteristics and needs of individuals with exceptionalities and their families

GIFTED

As part of our commitment to identifying and supporting advanced learners, we invite parents and guardians to contact their child's teacher if they believe their child demonstrates exceptional strengths, talents, or academic performance beyond grade-level expectations. This form helps us gather vital information to determine whether specialized educational services may be appropriate.

In New Mexico, a "gifted child" is a student whose intellectual abilities, creativity, problem-solving skills, artistic talents, or leadership qualities meet specific state criteria. A multidisciplinary team will review the referral and assess whether additional services are needed to support the student’s educational development.

Once a referral is submitted, the team will refer the student to be included in the school screening process. Following a screening review, the team will determine the next steps and communicate the results to parents through phone calls, letters, or meetings.

We appreciate your collaboration in recognizing and fostering the potential of gifted learners!

GATE Procedural Safeguards

NM Association For The Gifted

National Association of Gifted Children