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.
Special Programs
Heron Creek Therapeutic Program
Our Heron Creek Therapeutic Program serves K-12 students from districts throughout the region experiencing significant social, emotional, behavioral and academic challenges. We work to address their barriers to success and help them build the self-regulation skills that enable them to make a successful return to their home schools/districts. [...]
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 [...]
Procedural Safeguards Notice/Parental Rights for K-12 Special Education
Review restraint and seclusion data for Heron Creek and LEEP.
Program Director
Administrative Staff
Special Programs News
Supporting student growth and connection regionwide over the summer
Summer is a critical time for continued learning and support for many students across our region. Through a variety [...]
Staff spotlight: Miles Estes and Andrew Marquez, teaching residents
Life Enrichment Education Program staff members Miles Estes and Andrew Marquez are steadily working toward becoming licensed special education teachers [...]
Inclusive adventure: LEEP students experience the wonders of Outdoor School
For over 60 years, fifth and sixth-graders across the state have ventured into the wilderness for a week of hands-on [...]
