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 is 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 in 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 on ESE District Staff to the left), or the Exceptional Student Education office at 850-487-7160.

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                 Please click here for ESE Parent Survey:  https://fldoepaads.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_881xTFo6E6C6ZJI

QR Code for ESE Parent Survey:

Your input is valuable to us!

The survey closes on June 30, 2025

Upcoming Trainings and Support For ESE Teachers: 

University of North Florida’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Deaf Education University of North Florida’s online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Deaf Education program is designed for professionals (e.g., teachers, paraprofessionals and interpreters) who are currently working with or aspire to work with deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) students and have not yet completed the FDOE K-12 Deaf or Hard of Hearing Professional Certificate. In order to enroll in the program, applicants must have completed a bachelor’s degree (education degree not required). The content in the Certificate in Deaf Education program, is designed to help post-baccalaureate students prepare for the Florida Teacher Certification Examination Deaf or Hard of Hearing K-12 exam. The certificate program contains only five online courses, four deaf education courses and one elective. The program can be completed in one year; however, students can choose to move through the program more slowly. The certificate program has
rolling admission, meaning students can join the program during any semester. For more information about the program, go to  Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Deaf Education or contact deafeducation@unf.edu.

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) District Advisory Council (DAC) 

The dates for ESE DAC meetings for the 25-26 school year will be posted in August.

Meetings will be held at 

6:00 pm at the Aquilina Howell Building 

3955 West Pensacola St

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 Facebook page 

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Endorsement Tuition Support Program

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Endorsement Tuition Support Program The ESE Endorsement Tuition Support Program provides financial assistance to ESE educators or speech-language pathologists who are teaching students identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or Prekindergarten (PreK)/ESE in Florida public schools. Information about this endorsement tuition support program is being disseminated to assist teachers seeking an endorsement in ASD or PreK/ESE. Please include announcements of this ESE Endorsement Tuition Support Program in regional notices, listservs or newsletters for teachers. To view the application, go to https://florida-ese.org/tuition-support. For further assistance, contact Melanie Morales at ESESupport@fiu.edu.

“No person shall on the basis of sex, 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:

Tonja Fitzgerald, Divisional Director
Equity Compliance Officer (Students)
Leon County School District
2757 West Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
(850) 487-7309
fitzgeraldt@leonschools.net

Wallace Knight, Director
Equity Compliance Officer (Employees)
Title IX Compliance Officer
Leon County School District
2757 West Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
(850) 487-7210
knightwa@leonschools.net

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

Jennifer Benton, 504 Specialist
504 Specialist
(850) 487-7317
bentonj@leonschools.net