PAWN Special Education serves students in the Park Rapids, Nevis, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley, Pine Point School, and the Up North Learning Center districts. It is an inclusive community where all persons will reside, grow, and benefit by being with each other at home, at school and in the community.  The mission of PAWN Special Education is to deliver an array of services, facilitate the education of students, and provide opportunities for successful, meaningful learning.  PAWN Special Education is committed to the rights of all learners with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) based on individual needs.  Special education services are available to learners with disabilities from birth to age 22 attending public and nonpublic school, and pupils with disabilities who are of school age and are not attending any school.  Students must qualify in at least one of the following disability categories:
Autism Spectrum Disorder

Blind-Visually Impaired

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deaf-Blind

Developmental Cognitive Disability

Developmental Delay

Emotional or Behavioral Disorder

Other Health Disabilities

Physically Impaired

Severely Multiply Impaired

Specific Learning Disability

Speech or Language Impairment

Traumatic Brain Injury
For further information, contact your building principal or the PAWN Special Education office at 218-237-6540

Surrogate Parent

PAWN Special Education is seeking volunteers who are willing to be trained to serve as education advocates for children with disabilities who do not have parents to represent them in educational decisions.  The project is the Surrogate Parent Program.  A surrogate parent carries out the same role as the parent or guardian in determining a child’s school program.  No other services for the child are required from the surrogate parent.  The volunteers will be given information and training related to educational planning for children with disabilities. This training will be held in October.  For more information, contact PAWN Special Education Director Eva Pohl at epohl@parkrapids.k12.mn.us or 218-237-6541.
The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC)

The Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) advises school districts on the development of programs and services to meet the special educational needs of children and families. By sharing their unique perspective of what it is like to use these services, parents can help the district to be more effective. As a result, outcomes for children with disabilities continue to improve.  The PAWN Special Education member districts SEAC will be held at the Nevis School District on October 9, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.  For more information, contact PAWN Special Education Director Eva Pohl at epohl@parkrapids.k12.mn.us or 218-237-6541.