Welcome!  This page will help you find someone to talk to if you have concerns regarding your child's skills compared to peers or if your child is already receiving special education help and you want to talk to someone about your child's program. 

West Central Education District oversees special education procedures in Albany, Melrose, Paynesville and Sauk Centre.  Offices are located in the Community Service building in Melrose.  To contact WCED, call 320-256-6026. 

Is the child under the age of 3?  You can do a referral through the Help Me Grow website at helpmegrowmn.org.  West Central Education District (WCED) takes care of all children's needs under the age of 3.  You can also call WCED at the number above.

Is the child ages 3-5 and not in school yet?  If the child is not attending school yet and over the age of 3, you can do a referral at the Help Me Grow website at helpmegrowmn.org or you can call the elementary school you live closest to and ask who you can talk to regarding the concerns.

If you have communicated with someone at the elementary and have further questions or comments, please call the number above and ask for the Special Education Director.

Is the child in preschool through 12th grade?   If your child is attending school, you can talk with your child's classroom teacher at the preschool or elementary level and any of your child's teachers at the middles school or secondary level.  If you have already talked to a teacher and have further questions, you should contact the building principal.

If you have communicated with the building principal and have further questions or comments, please call the number above and ask for the Special Education Director.

Is the child under the age of 3?   All children who are receiving help within a home setting have a special education teacher who is in charge of programming.  The teacher's name and contact information is on the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).  If you need help finding your child's special education teacher, call WCED at the number above.

If you have already talked to the special education teacher and have further questions or comments you can call the number above and ask for the Special Education Director.

 Is the child receiving special education services at school?  All children who are in special education have a special education teacher who is the case manager for your child's programming.  The case manager's name and contact information is listed on the front page of the Individual Education Plan(IEP).

All questions should go through the case manager first.  If you aren't sure who that person is you can call the secretary in the building your child attends to help you find the case manager.

If you have already talked to the case manager and have further questions, contact the building principal.

If you have communicated with the building principal and have further questions or comments, please call the number above and ask for the Special Education Director.