The term special education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with an educational disability. The categories of disability as defined by state code (99-4) include:

Autism 
Deaf-Blindness 
Emotional Disturbance 
Hearing Impairment 
Mental Retardation
Multiple Disabilities
Orthopedic Impairment
Other Health Impairment
Specific Learning Disabilities
Speech & Language Impairment
Traumatic Brain Injury
Visual Impairment
Developmental Delay (for preschoolers)

Services are provided for children ages 3 through 21 with identified, eligible disabilities. Children suspected of being disabled may be referred through Child Find, that is, identification through agencies outside of the Brewton City School System or through referral from within the system, by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, or the student etc. The process includes pre-referral intervention strategies, informing and involving parents, screening of the suspected disability and further evaluation, if warranted, to determine eligibility for special education services. Not every referral will warrant an evaluation and not every evaluation will warrant eligibility for special education services.

Additionally, Brewton City Schools provides gifted services and an array of enriching programs and activities. Through school-wide enrichment, the gifted program will work with the classroom teachers in providing resources for the continuation of challenging enrichment and/or accelerated curriculum. Students possessing the ability to perform at a high level in academic or creative fields are found in all populations and across all socio-economic groups. A student may be referred by any individual having knowledge of the student's abilities such as the parents, teachers, or the student.

Information is gathered regarding aptitude, characteristics and performance for each student referred, which is considered in screening. Further testing may be needed to determine eligibility. Not every referral will warrant an evaluation and not every evaluation will warrant eligibility for special education services.

Referrals for suspected disabilities or giftedness may be made at each school to the counselor or principal or at the central office to the special education coordinator. More information regarding these programs and services including the Alabama Administrative Code, the federal register, and parental rights may be obtained from each school (counselor) or the system special education coordinator at (334) 867-8400.