Our Mission

It is the mission of the Exceptional Student Education Department to ensure that schools provide opportunities and programs that encourage students to develop academic and social skills commensurate with their abilities. The commitment of the ESE Department is to assist all school personnel in the appropriate identification, placement, and programming for exceptional students. It is recognized that parent training, community awareness, and services to families are essential to student success. This website is designed to give you an overview of the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Department of the Leon County School District in Tallahassee, Florida, and the many services available to students that qualify for ESE programs. If you are new to Leon County, information is included that will facilitate your child's entrance into our district and, if applicable, into an appropriate exceptional program. A brief description of each exceptional program and its eligibility requirements are provided as well as other valuable information regarding your child's Individual Education Plan (IEP).

The Exceptional Student Education Department is committed to giving exceptional students the means of achieving their annual goals as specified on each student's Individual Education Plan while educating them in the least restrictive environment.

If you have any questions please contact the counselor at your child's school, the ESE Program Specialist assigned to your child's school (listed in ESE District Staff to the left), or the Exceptional Student Education office at 850-487-7160.

Nondiscrimination Notification and Contact Information

“No person shall on the basis of sex (including transgender, gender nonconforming and  gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, color, pregnancy, disability, military status or genetic information be denied employment, receipt of services, access to or participation in school activities or programs if qualified to receive such services, or otherwise be discriminated against or placed in a hostile environment in any educational program or activity including those receiving federal financial assistance, except as provided by law.” No person shall deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, or any other youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society.

An employee, student, parent or applicant alleging discrimination with respect to employment, or any educational program or activity may contact:

Deana McAllister, Assistant Superintendent

Equity Coordinator

Leon County School District

2757 West Pensacola Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32304

(850) 487-7193

mcallisterd@leonschools.net

Wallace Knight, Director

Title IX Coordinator

Leon County School District

2757 West Pensacola Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32304

(850) 487-7193

knightwa@leonschools.net

A student or parent alleging discrimination as it relates to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may contact:

Jennifer Benton, 504 Program Specialist

Leon County School District

3955 West Pensacola Street

Tallahassee, Florida 32304

 (850) 487-7160

bentonj@leonschools.net

Stay connected with what is happening in the ESE world and connect with other parents of students with disabilities to share resources and engage in supportive dialogue through the LCS DAC website and Facebook page. See links below.

LCS ESE District Advisory Council Website

LCS ESE District Advisory Council Facebook Page 

Link to the PEPSA Newsletter and information about the Annual Autism Summer Institute:

https://mailchi.mp/usf/pepsa-e-bulletin-new-trainings-2020-8850005?e=ac1774e756

For children grades K-5 who have hearing loss and use a listening and spoken language approach for communication

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Endorsement Tuition Support Program

The ESE Endorsement Tuition Support Program provides financial assistance to ESE teachers who are teaching students identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or prekindergarten (PreK)/ESE in Florida public schools through a grant sponsored by the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services at the FDOE. Please include the announcement of the ESE Endorsements Tuition Support Program in regional notices, listservs and newsletters for teachers. For more information and to download the application, go to https://florida-ese.org/tuition-support. For questions, contact Melanie Morales at Melanie.Morales@fiu.edu.