Lincoln Public Schools

Welcome to Special Education

Our mission is to provide quality educational opportunities for students with disabilities from birth to age 21.  It is our aim to improve educational outcomes for all children with disabilities through collaborative efforts among students, families, educators and the community alike.

Thank you for your interest in the special education services provided by Lincoln Public Schools.  We hope you find this web site helpful.  Additional information can be obtained by calling our main switchboard at 436-1905 or fax at 436-1899.

Michael Bossard, Ph. D.
Director of Special Education

Special Education Leadership Team

Mike Bossard, Director of Special Education
436-1932
mbossard@lps.org

  • Department Organization and Operation
  • Budget, Staffing and IDEA Grant Coordination
  • Compliance Issues at District and Building Levels
  • Coordinators/Assistant Principals (monthly meetings)
  • Level III Placement Coordination
  • Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Preparation and Mainenance of Claim, Plan and Budget, Audits
  • Parent Advisory Committee
  • Professional Development and Curriculum and Instruction Study Supports
  • Psychologists Supervision
  • Response to Intervention Math (RTI)
  • Special Education Website
  • SPELL Committee
  • State and Federal Compliance
  • Transportation for Special Education

Mary Ells, Assistant Director
436-1806
mells@lps.org

  • Assist in Overall Management of Department and Office Staff Supervision
  • Assistive Technology Services Supervision
  • CRS Resource Program
  • Curriculum and Instruction Study
  • Data Warehouse
  • District Wide Assessment: Accommodations, Alternate Assessment, CRT, GDR, NRT
  • Expertise in Programs/Services for Students with Autism, Learning Disabilities, Mental Handicaps
  • Grants Coordination: Collaborative Project and SCIP Grants
  • Homebound Program Supervision
  • IEP’s and Student Record System (SRS): Monitor, Plan and Implement
  • Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities (ILCD) Program Evaluation
  • Medicaid Administrative Outreach
  • Professional Development and School Improvement District Committee
  • Summer Services Support
  • Supervision of services for Assistive Technology, Inclusion Cadre,  Homebound and Nonpublic Schools
  • Schools Assigned: Southwest, Feeder Middle/Elementary Schools

Cindy Brunken, Supervisor
436-1902
cbrunk@lps.org

  • Brain Injury Regional Support Team (BIRSST) and Grant Co-Chairperson
  • Curriculum and Instructions Study and Resource Program Assistance
  • Expertise in Programs for Students with Speech-Language Impairments
  • IEP - Monitor, Plan, and Implement
  • Medicaid - MIPS and Medicaid Administrative Outreach Claim
  • Parent Newsletter
  • Professional Development Supports
  • Response to Intervention (RTI) K-8 Reading and Writing
  • Speech/Language Program Supervision
  • Summer Services Support
  • VIP-UNL Athletic Department/LPS Special Education Co-Chairperson
  • Schools Assigned:  East High, Feeder Middle/Elementary Schools

Tanya Hilligoss, Supervisor
436-1915
thillig@lps.org

Mary Phillips, Supervisor
436-1907
mphil@lps.org

  • Early Childhood Special Education Program/Services: Child Study and Home Base Supervision
  • Early Childhood Outcomes Monitoring
  • Early Childhood Planning Region Team Chairperson and Regional System and Support/Change Grant
  • Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction Study
  • Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities (ILCD): Early Childhood Indicators
  • Medicaid - MIPS
  • Paraeducator Staff Development and Rule 11 Compliance
  • Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Program/Services:OT/PT Supervision
  • Professional Development Supports
  • Summer Services Support
  • Schools Assigned:  Lincoln High, Feeder Middle/Elementary Schools

Susan Safarik, Supervisor
436-1918
sbuchan@lps.org

  • Behavioral Disorders Program/Services: Behavioral Skills Program, Special Education Alternative Program and Yankee Hill Program Supervision
  • Behavioral Specialists and Behavioral Therapists Supervision
  • Expertise in Programs/Services for Students with Behavioral Disorders
  • Cedars Youth Services System Residential Program Supervision
  • Child Guidance Residential Program Supervision and Rule 18 Compliance
  • Contracts Out Coordination and Rule 19 Compliance
  • Curriculum and Instruction Study Assistance
  • MANDT Training Program Supervision
  • Professional Development Supports
  • Program Review Committee
  • Response to Invervention (RTI) Behavior
  • Summer Services Support
  • Schools Assigned:  Northeast, North Star, Feeder Middle/Elementary Schools

 

Assessment Options

September, 2007

 

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network

Southeast Regional ASD Network

 

Behavior Disorders

Council for Children with Behavior Disorders

National Alliance on Mental Illness

National Institute of Mental Health

Positive Behavioral Supports

 

Early Childhood Special Education

Early Childhood Planning Region Team #18

Nebraska Early Childhood Interagency Coordinating Council (ECICC)

 

Government Resources

Federal Office of Special Education Programs

Nebraska Department of Education Special Populations

 

Hearing Impairment - SNRP

Southeast Nebraska Regional Program for Students Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

 

IEP and MDT

Time Line

 

National Associations

Council for Exceptional Children

National Association of School Psychologists

 

Parent Resources

PACER Center

 

Parental Rights In Special Education

English

Arabic

Nuer

Spanish

Vietnamese

 

RTI (Response to Intervention)

Permission for Specialist's Participation

RTI - Assessment Handbook

RTI - K-5 Elementary DIBELS Reading Norms

RTI - 6th Grade DIBELS Norms

RTI - Procedural Checklist for Assessment/Placement

RTI - Reading Tool Kit

 

Rule 51

Rule 51

 

Severe Disabilities

TASH - Association for Severe Disabilities

 

Special Education Parent Advisory Minutes

Parent Advisory Meeting October 5, 2006

Parent Advisory Meeting November 9, 2006

Parent Advisory Meeting February 1, 2007

Parent Advisory Meeting April 12, 2007

 

Special Education Personnel Directory

2007-08 Personnel Directory

 

Specific Learning Disabilities

Learning Disabilities Association

National Council for Learning Disabilities

 

Speech-Language

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

 

SRS System

Web-Based IEP Access

 

Forms

Alternate Assessment-Past (Curriculum Planning Only)

Application for Homebound Instruction

Application for Supplementary Evaluation from MDT Evaluation

AT Agreement for use of LPS Alpha Smart

AT Agreement for use of LPS Computer

AT Agreement for use of LPS Writer

AT Loan of AT Devices, Material, Equipment Form

AT Referral Form

Behavior Intervention Plan

Behavior Specialist Referral

Community Based Education Request for Bus Use

Critical Incident Report

Equipment Use Waiver

Equitable Service Plan Nonresident Child Parentally-Placed In A Nonpublic School

Functional Behavior Assessment Process

IEP Student Planning Form

Inclusion Cadre Goals and Expectations Form

Inclusion Cadre Referral Form

Indirect Functional Behavior Assessment Process

Invoice for Education Interpreting Services

Mandt Registration Form

Manifestation Forms

OT/PT Clinic School Age Referrals

Summary of Performance

Summer School Forms for ECSE-Middle School

Summer School Forms for High School

VOICE - IEP Manager Information

VOICE - Important Student Information

VOICE - Student Profile