Special Services

Multi-District Administrative Unit

The Gunnison Watershed School District serves as the special education fiscal agent for the towns of Gunnison, Crested Butte, Marble and Lake City. Questions and/or concerns should be forwarded to the Director of Special Services. 

Contact:

Megan Wells

800 North Boulevard Street

Gunnison, Colorado 81230

Phone: 970-641-7750

Disabilities Education Act

Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Colorado is required to develop a State Performance Plan (SPP) that evaluates the State's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of IDEA Part B and how the State will improve its implementation.  The SPP contains measurable and rigorous targets in 20 indicators that were established by the US Department of Education.

In order to ensure all students are successful, the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE) Department collaborates and communicates with students, staff, families and community.  All educators are teachers of language, empowering students by providing equitable access to consistent, high-quality instruction in order to achieve social and academic excellence and become active members of our community.  

At GWSD we believe everyone benefits from being part of a diverse learning community and that partnerships between schools and families are critical to student success. 

Gifted and talented children (ages 4-21) are those whose exceptional or developmentally advanced abilities, talents, and potential necessitate special educational provisions. This definition encompasses all socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural populations, including gifted students with disabilities (twice-exceptional).

Such students are capable of high performance, exceptional production, or exceptional learning behavior in any combination of the following:

• Intellectual ability (general or specific)
• Specific academic aptitude
• Creative or productive thinking
• Leadership
• Visual, performing, musical, or psychomotor arts

Early childhood special education services may also be provided to gifted children under five.

Contact Information:
Megan Wells, Director of Special Services; 970-641-7750

Emily Kowal,: Gunnison Gifted Education Coordinator and Teacher; 970-641-7710

Stacey Pennie, Gifted Education Teacher, Crested Butte; 970-641-7720

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Children’s Education Assistance Act passed in 1987 was designed to address the growing number of school-aged children who are considered homeless. The law requires that each school district removes barriers to the enrollment and retention of children in homeless situations. Students and their families may be entitled to funding by completing this form.

The term “homeless” is broadly defined include Identifying Factors for individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes children and youth who are living in a wide variety of inadequate living situations such as motels, campgrounds, cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings , emergency or transitional shelters and shared housing due to the loss of housing, economic hardship or other similar reasons.

The McKinney-Vento Act also ensures rights and protections for “unaccompanied youth” who are defined as youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.