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About > Counseling Office > Carson McEvoy, School Psychologist > Special Education - A Brief Definition

What is Special Education?

Special education is individualized instruction provided for students who are struggling in academics, social skills, or functional skills when compared to their peers. The goal of special education is to support support a student's individual needs and help them grow. Depending on needs of the individual, the student may receive services alongside his or her peers in the regular education classroom setting or he or she may receive services in a smaller group (or even individual setting). A student's services are summarized in an individual education plan (IEP).

Student's qualify for special education by meeting one or more of the 13 special education categories. More information about these disability categories and the specific eligibility criteria checklists can be found at the Minnesota Department of Education website.

Please note that there are specific criteria that need to be met in order to qualify for special education.  Although medical information is important to provide to your child’s educational team, know that the criteria needed to meet educational criteria may differ from medical diagnoses

Our Mission

The mission of Mahtomedi Middle School, an authentically connected community of Zephyrs dedicated to the fearless pursuit of personal growth is to ensure all students possess the academic, social, and emotional foundation for individual success while exploring passions and enhancing their joy of learning, through a vital system distinguished by:

  • A culture that fosters trusting relationships and belonging
  • An inclusive community that embraces and celebrates each individual
  • Exceptional learning experiences and diverse opportunities that inspire and challenge students inside and outside of the classroom
  • A culture that encourages curiosity and risk-taking and recognizes failure as a part of the learning process
  • A dynamic learning environment that is flexible and responsive
Mahtomedi Middle School ISD #832
8100 75th Street North, Mahtomedi, MN 55115
Phone: 651.407.2200
Fax: 651.407.2225
Our School
Mahtomedi Middle School provides programming to allow each student to find success academically, socially, and emotionally. Our curriculum provides students exploratory opportunities in a variety of curricular areas that provide career and college ready experiences: engineering, art, music, health, family and consumer science, phy-ed, and Spanish. Our experienced staff is focused on the social and emotional development of the early adolescent and provides small advisory groups and individual success coaching. Academic offerings include accelerated and honors courses in math, science, and language arts as well as support classes for those students who need extra attention in skill-building and time management. In addition to academic coursework, our students also have opportunities to engage and explore through our co-curricular offerings. Individual student attention is the strength of Mahtomedi Middle School.