NOLA Public Schools believes in putting children first. Every child. We can bring them to their fullest potential by meeting their unique needs, enriching their academic lives, and providing comprehensive equitable services. This resource page aims to provide you with an overview of the special education programs, policies, and procedures our schools. If your child attends one of the following schools, the school district maintains more specific information on the special education program at that school. See below for that information. If your child does not attend one of the schools below, use the school directory to contact your child’s school for more information.
If you have any questions or are looking for information on schools with programs that may fit the specialized needs of your student, please review the Program Guide.
The Special Education Resource Guide is a living document that contains more than 20 areas of assistance, boasting more than 170 organizations and providers. Resources to assist families obtain housing, extra-curricular activities, financial aid, transportation, and employment opportunities are just a few of the categories the Guide contains. Please review the 2023 Special Education Resource Guide for helpful resources. The following are different versions of the 2023 Special Education Resource Guide:
The purpose of the NOLA Public Schools Transitions Resource Guide is to connect students with disabilities and their families, as well other educators and professionals, with the range of programs, supports, and services that are available as individuals prepare for adulthood. Areas covered include employment, community access, housing, independent living, financial planning and legal rights. The guide will provide critical information about supportive programs to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEP) or 504 accommodations as well as their families, employers, and support providers.
View All Program Descriptions
View All Program DescriptionsSpecial Education Policies and Procedures
Child Search
Our Child Search Office conducts screenings and/or multidisciplinary evaluations for children, ages 3-5, suspected of having a disability. This service is provided to all children within Orleans Parish, at no cost to the family. To access the Child Search Scheduling System, please click the button below, or call 504-304-4988 to schedule an appointment.
Request a Child Search AppointmentAdministrative Reviews of Private Evaluations
If your child has a current evaluation (within one year of today’s date) from a private vendor, please bring a copy of the complete evaluation and the Request for Administrative Review Form to the attention of the Assistant Director of ECS, at 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 2060, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114 , or email a copy to ecs@opsb.us.
If your child attends one of the following schools, the school district maintains more specific information on the special education program at that school. See below for that information. If your child does not attend one of the schools below, use the school directory to contact your child’s school for more information.
Section 504 Grievance Procedures
See above for specific schools
These procedures were designed to provide an orderly process for the resolution of student and parent/guardian complaints related to the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against a person with a disability solely on the basis of that disability in programs, activities or employment practices. An equitable resolution of such complaints should be secured at the most immediate administrative level as fairly and expeditiously as possible
Section 504 Grievance ProtocolSpecial Education Complaint Protocol (LEA ONLY)
See above for specific schools
If your child has an IEP and attends a school under the jurisdiction of the Orleans Parish School Board, and you would like to submit a complaint, please use the Online Complaint Submission Form. You are not required to use this form to file a complaint with the Orleans Parish School Board. You may send a letter or e-mail instead of this form; however, the letter or e-mail must include the information identified in this form. All complaints are received and reviewed by Kathryn Elichman, Director of ECS and/or Joni Lastrapes, Director of ECS. They may be reached via the following mediums: 2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 2060, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114; ecs@opsb.us; 504-304-4935; or 504-304-4995.
