Special Programs

Services tailored to each child’s individual needs

Some students in our region experience complex cognitive, physical, emotional or behavioral challenges that impact their ability to learn. Our partnership with area school districts gives them additional capacity to serve the educational needs of all of these children. Districts refer school-age children experiencing significant learning challenges to us, and we provide individualized services tailored to their needs. We also assist older students in transitioning to the next stages of their lives by building employable skills and independent living capacity.

We provide educational support for students who are in short- and longer-term residential facilities. We work closely with families, caregivers and school district partners to develop personalized learning plans that will allow students to return to their home schools as quickly as possible.

We also provide specific services throughout the region and state, including staff support, training and assistance with federal and state programs in areas such as occupation/physical therapy.

Students of all ages and abilities served in our LEEP and Heron Creek programs in 2024-25

Special Programs

Heron Creek Therapeutic Program

Our Heron Creek programs provide therapy, social-emotional support, and communication services as part of a strong educational experience for students. By creating individual support plans based on each student’s specific needs and goals, we help students and their families build the skills they [...]

Life Enrichment Education Program

Our Life Enrichment Education Program (LEEP) provides a comprehensive education for students grades kindergarten through transition with complex disabilities and communication needs. Through Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), LEEP supports students in accessing academic, social-emotional, communication and life skills curriculum and instruction. Multidisciplinary classroom teams include special education teachers, [...]

Local Educational Agency Motor Team

We provide occupational and physical therapy staff support upon request from our school district partners. These staff members provide consultation, assessments and direct services, including ongoing support for students with Individualized Education Plans where these services are required. Program Contacts [...]

Medicaid and School-Based Health Services

Clackamas ESD provides two important Medicaid-related services to our partner districts: Medicaid administrative claiming and Medicaid administrative billing support. Medicaid Fee for Service Medicaid’s fee-for-service process allows districts to recover the costs of providing medically necessary support to eligible students. Clackamas ESD collaborates [...]

Parrott Creek

We bring an educational team of teacher and coach to the Parrott Creek Ranch, a residential program for youth who are stepping out of incarceration or who are returning from residential placements outside of Oregon. These professionals are supervised and supported by the administrative team at Heron [...]

Regional Technical Assistance Program

Clackamas ESD’s regional technical assistance program offers free professional development and hands-on support to special education teachers, classified staff, case managers and administrators across our partner districts. Clackamas ESD’s regional technical assistance program was created in 2023–24 as part of a statewide initiative led by the Office [...]

Transition Network Facilitation

Transition Network Facilitation promotes successful and seamless transition of students from school to adult life. Clackamas ESD serves Transition Network Facilitation in Clackamas, Hood River, Wasco, Gilliam, Sherman, Marion, Polk, Yamhill and Tillamook counties to help students with disabilities ages 14 to 21 shift from school to [...]