Student Supports & Services
What we doThe Muscatine Community School District offers a wide variety of services in order to provide the best educational experience for each and every student.
Becky Wichers
Director of Student ServicesEmail Me
becky.wichers@mcsdonline.orgDepartments
504 Plans
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the law that prohibits schools from discriminating against students with disabilities. Section 504 sets minimum standards for providing related services and aids to students with disabilities that substantially limits a major life activity. All accredited Iowa schools must comply with Section 504. Section 504 applies to elementary and secondary education, preschool and adult education, and private education.
View Information about Special Programs at MCSD.
MCSD Section 504 Procedure & Checklist
Please click the link below to view the Muscatine Community School District’s Section 504 Procedure & Checklist.
At Risk
Iowa Administrative Code 12.2(256) has defined the ”At-risk student” as any identified student who needs additional support and who is not meeting or not expected to meet the established goals of the educational program (academic, personal/social, career/vocational). At-risk students, other than students with disabilities, include but are not limited to students in the following groups: homeless children and youth, dropouts, returning dropouts, and potential dropouts.
Homeless
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act was created to assure that homeless children and youth continue to attend school, regardless of their living situation. It helps provide transportation, school supplies, assistance registering for school, federal meal assistance and referral to community organizations.
Home School Program
MCSD is here to help with preparing your child(ren) for homeschooling or dual-enrollment, and to assist you along the way. We have an open-door policy and we are here for every child, parent, and family!
Special Education
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA, 2004) is a federal law that requires that schools provide students from ages 3 to 21 with educational disabilities a free, appropriate public education (FAPE).
Special education is a broad term that describes the education of students with intellectual, physical, behavioral, or emotional disabilities. Special education involves specially designed instruction tailored to the unique needs of each child and is provided at no cost to parents. The federal law Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures services to children with disabilities throughout the nation.
Infants and toddlers (ages birth to 2 years old) with disabilities and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3 to 21 years old) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.
Title One
Click to view more information about the MCSD Title One Program.
English Language Learners (ESL)
Click to view more information about the ESL services provided by the school district.
Gifted & Talented (GT)
Click to view more information about the GT programs provided by the school district.
Project SEARCH
Project SEARCH was developed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, a research environment that fosters visionary thinking and innovation. It all began in 1996 when Erin Riehle was Director of Cincinnati Children’s Emergency Department. Erin felt that, because the hospital served individuals with developmental disabilities, it made sense that they should commit to hiring people in this group. She wondered if it would be possible to train people with developmental disabilities to fill some of the high-turnover, entry-level positions in her department, which involved complex and systematic tasks such as stocking supply cabinets. As a starting point, Erin presented her ideas to Susie Rutkowski, then the special education director at Great Oaks Career Campuses. Erin and Susie formed a partnership that was instantaneous, and together they launched Project SEARCH.
Since its inception, Project SEARCH has grown from a single program site at Cincinnati Children’s to a large and continuously expanding international network of sites. Project SEARCH’s primary objective is to secure competitive employment for people with disabilities.