Sparta Area Schools
Special Education Department
480 S. State St.
Sparta, MI 49345
616-887-7359
Welcome to the Sparta Schools Special Education Department. A continuum of programs and services are offered for students who qualify for special education. Most of the students attend programs and/or receive services in the local district. Some Sparta students attend programs in neighboring districts or in Grand Rapids. Sparta has a full diagnostic staff that conducts student evaluations and provides support services to eligible students. The diagnostic team also works with general and special education teachers and parents.
Susan Gates
Special Education Supervisor
Rose Hunter Faurot
Secretary
Special Education Program Overview
Early Childhood Program (Ages 2-5 years) Located at Ridgeview Elementary
• Early Childhood Home and Community Program - (2-3 years of age). Strong focus on parent involvement which
can include a weekly playgroup and a home visit by a certified early childhood teacher.
• Early Childhood Special Education Classroom (formerly known as PPI- pre-primary impaired). This program is for
3-5 year old children who have been tested by the early childhood diagnostic team and have been found eligible
based on state and federal guidelines. Services are in a school setting and students may attend for 3-5 half days
per week. The program has a pre-school focus with a strong emphasis on speech and language development
and instruction focusing on the student's specific goals and objectives.
Ridgeview Elementary (K - 2nd grades)
• Resource Room-Pull out model of instruction and/or inclusion and support in the general education settings. The
general education and student goals and objectives are used for instruction.
• Moderate Cognitive Impaired Program-Self-contained classroom with a focus on meeting individual needs and
basic skills based on student goals and objectives.
Appleview Elementary (3rd - 5th grades)
• Resource Room options in Language Arts and/or Math. Students are supported using a combination of services
that include both small group interventions outside of their classroom as well as support within the general
education classroom using the general education curriculum. Co-teaching teams, which provide support from
both general education teacher(s) and a special education teacher, are available at each grade level.
• Resource Room setting for students with higher needs focuses instruction on the general education curriculum
at the student's level while reinforcing functional life skills. This is a multi-grade classroom with instruction/
support in content areas primarily using a pull-out model of instruction.
• Moderate Cognitive Impaired Program-Self-contained classroom with a focus on meeting individual needs and
basic skills. This program uses a life skills curriculum with a focus on Community Based Instruction (CBI).
Sparta Middle School (6th-8th grades)
• Resource Room options in Language Arts and/or Math. Students are supported using a combination of services
that include both small group interventions outside of their classroom as well as support within the general
education classroom using the general education curriculum. Co-teaching teams, which provide support from
both general education teacher(s) and a special education teacher, are available at each grade level.
• Resource Room setting for students with higher needs focuses instruction on the general education curriculum
at the student's level while reinforcing functional life skills. This is a multi-grade classroom with instruction/
support in content areas primarily using a pull-out model of instruction. This program may include Community
Based Instruction (CBI) to address future employability skills.
• Moderate Cognitive Impaired Program-Self-contained classroom with a focus on meeting individual needs and
basic skills. This program uses a life skills curriculum with a focus on Community Based Instruction (CBI).
Sparta High School (9th-12th grades)
• Resource Room options in all core academic are a using a pull-out instruction model and/or team taught
classes. The general education Michigan Merit Curriculum is used.
• Mild Cognitive Impaired Program-Uses a life skills application to the general education curriculum and has a
focus on Community Based Instruction. The students receive a Certificate of Completion or Certificate of
Attendance if moving on to a post-secondary program.
• Moderate Cognitive Impaired Program-Self-contained classroom with a focus on meeting individual needs and
basic skills. This program uses a life skills curriculum with a focus on Community Based Instruction (CBI). The
students earn a Certificate of Attendance upon completing this program and moving to a post-secondary
program.
Englishville High School (9th - 12th grades)
• Resource Room option in core academic areas with team taught classes and pull-out instruction when needed.
The general education Michigan Merit Curriculum is used.
Special Education Services
Speech and Language Therapy
Following a speech evaluation, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is held to determine if a student is eligible for
direct, consult or monitored speech and language services.
Occupational or Physical Therapy
These services are provided based on goals and objectives on the student's IEP.
School Social Work
The school social workers provide direct, consulting or monitoring services to students who experience difficulty
with social skills, relationships, and/or behavior in the school setting. They provide individualized or small group
counseling to students as well as support to the school staff and parents. The services are based on the
student's IEP.
School Psychology
The school psychologist conducts comprehensive evaluations on students who are referred through the child
study process due to learning and/or behavioral difficulties in the classroom. Written parental permission is
required to conduct an evaluation, and the results are discussed with parents and staff at an Individual
Education Plan (IEP) meeting.
