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Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled (MSSD) is a state operated program serving Missouri students with severe disabilities. Established by state law in 1957, MSSD serves children and youth between the ages of 5 and 21. MSSD is administered by the State Board of Education through the Office of Special Education. MSSD is supported primarily by funds appropriated annually by the Missouri Legislature.
Extended Employment Sheltered Workshops (EESW) provide employment via a public-private non-profit partnership in a controlled, safe, and highly supervised work environment. This partnership is designed toward enabling individuals with disabilities to progress toward normal living and to develop, as far as possible, his or her capacity, performance, and relationship with other persons.
The Special Education Data Section helps Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by providing Local Education Agencies (LEA) training, support, and guidance on how to report and use special education data. The team also helps set state goals for performance under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), ensures state and federal reporting requirements are met, and creates and shares data profiles for the state and for local school districts.
Within the Division of Learning Services, the Office of Special Education, the Effective Practices section works with school districts to identify effective research and data-driven monitoring, accountability and assessment of instructional practices in areas of literacy, positive academic and behavior interventions, supportive, personalized and relevant special education instruction, technical assistance and professional development that encourages parent/district/community involvement working together to develop a clear and common focus for students with disabilities.
The Compliance Section within the Office of Special Education supports the mission of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Vision of the Division of Learning Services by providing leadership in establishing standards which promote improved outcomes for students with disabilities as well as consistency in the procedures public agencies implement for meeting compliance with state and federal regulations.
The Office of Special Education monitors the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) by local education agencies to ensure that all children with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education.
These pages include information on requirements, supports, and resources that are important to students who experience disabilities as well as parents, families, guardians, and those who support them.