🤝Student Support and Special Education

Hickam Elementary is dedicated to providing high-quality, inclusive learning for all students. We partner with families to meet the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of every child.

📊 Hawaii Multi-Tiered System of Support (HMTSS)

At Hickam Elementary, a student does not need to be in Special Education to receive targeted help! We use the HMTSS framework—often called Response to Intervention (RtI)—to proactively monitor student data and provide exact levels of academic and behavioral support within the general education setting.

Tier 1: Core Instruction

For ALL Students

Every student receives high-quality, differentiated instruction and school-wide Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in their regular classroom. Teachers use universal screeners (like i-Ready) to monitor progress and ensure foundational skills are being met.

Tier 2: Targeted Support

For SOME Students

If a student begins to struggle, we rapidly provide targeted, small-group interventions (such as extra reading or math practice) to help them catch up alongside their peers.

Tier 3: Intensive Intervention

For a FEW Students

Students requiring significant help receive individualized, intensive instruction. If consistent progress is not made at this tier, the team may recommend a formal Special Education evaluation.

🔍 Identifying the Need: The Child Find Process

"Child Find" is a statewide effort to identify, locate, and evaluate children who may have a disability. If your child is struggling academically or behaviorally despite regular classroom interventions, follow these steps:

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1️⃣ Request an Evaluation

Contact our school Principal or Student Services Coordinator (SSC) to request an evaluation. Explain or write down your concerns regarding your child's learning, speech, or social-emotional development.

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2️⃣ Team Review

A school team (including you, the parent) will review your child's grades, test scores, and teacher observations to determine if a formal evaluation is needed. The school will respond within 15 days.

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3️⃣ Comprehensive Assessment

If approved, your child will undergo an evaluation to determine eligibility. Assessments may cover academic performance, communication, health, vision, hearing, and social/emotional status at no cost to you.

📘 Special Education & IEPs

Special education provides specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, as mandated by IDEA.

Eligibility: Students ages 3–21 who require specialized, customized instruction to make educational progress.
The IEP: If eligible, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is created. This legal document outlines your child's present performance, annual goals, and specific special education services.
The Team: The IEP team meets at least annually and includes the parent, special education teacher, general education teacher, and school administrator.

📗 Section 504 Accommodations

Section 504 is a civil rights law protecting students from discrimination based on disability. It ensures equal access to education.

Eligibility: Students with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (e.g., ADHD, severe allergies, medical conditions).
The 504 Plan: Unlike an IEP (which changes what is taught), a 504 Plan changes how the student accesses the environment by providing reasonable accommodations (e.g., extra time on tests, preferred seating).

🏫 Our Commitment to Inclusive Education

Hickam Elementary embraces a culture of inclusion. We firmly believe that students with disabilities should have equal access to and successfully engage in the same educational environment as their non-disabled peers. We prioritize delivering special education services in the least restrictive environment (LRE) possible, ensuring all Falcons learn and grow together.

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