Child Find is a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA ’04) that requires Public Education Agencies (PEA) to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth through 21 years, who are in need of early intervention or special education services.

If you have concerns regarding your child’s development and live in the Mayer Unified School District boundaries, we offer free monthly developmental screening at Mayer Elementary School. Please contact 928-642-1040 to schedule an appointment.

Arizona Definition of Gifted and Talented

Arizona Revised Statute §15-779 defines a gifted child as "any child of lawful school age who displays superior intellect, advanced learning ability or both and who needs special instruction and services to reach appropriate levels of achievement."

Please see the Arizona Department of Education's Gifted Education website for more information.

If you need assistance regarding gifted identification or eligibility, please contact:

Dr. Risha VanderWey
Superintendent/Director of Student Services
(928) 642-1040
risha.vanderwey@musd43.org

The English Language Learner (ELL) program is designed to promote student success in school by providing instruction in the development of listening, speaking, vocabulary, reading, writing skills and grammar in the English language. To ensure that all students in the program learn English as quickly as possible, and to comply with Proposition 203 regulations, all ELL instruction in the Mayer Unified School District is taught in English.

For information about the English Language Learner Program, please contact

Dr. Risha VanderWey
Superintendent/Director of Student Services
928-642-1040
risha.vanderwey@musd43.org

The Mayer Unified School District supports the importance of a child’s early years by providing a Preschool Program for children with identified special needs. The Little Cubs Preschool provides special education services to 3-5 year old children with qualifying developmental delays in the areas of hearing, vision, speech/language, cognitive, social, motor, and/or adaptive behavior. Eligibility is determined through formal assessment procedures.

If your preschool student has already been identified as in need of special education services and has an IEP, please contact the Exceptional Student Services office to schedule an appointment to review your child’s plan.

Preschool Peer Program

Mayer Unified School District offers a tuition based program to any child who is 4 years of age by September 1st. Every peer role model must be potty-trained by the time they enter preschool.

Monday - Wednesday 

Morning Session 8:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. 

Click here to download a Preschool Interest Form

Dr. Risha VanderWey
Superintendent/Director of Student Services
928-642-1040
risha.vanderwey@musd43.org

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantees individuals with disabilities equal access to an education. In order to be qualified for assistance under Section 504, the student must meet the definition of “disabled.”

A student with a disability is one who:

1. Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; or

2. Has a record of such an impairment; or

3. Is regarded as having such impairment.

For questions regarding Section 504 identification or eligibility, please contact;

Director of Student Services

Dr. Risha VanderWey
risha.vanderwey@musd43.org
928-642-1040

Elementary & High School 504 Coordinator

Vickie Nelson
vickie.nelson@musd43.org
928-642-1246

Special Education is defined by the specially designed instruction developed to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability. All students on IEPs are provided equal opportunity to participate in educational, nonacademic, extracurricular and ancillary programs, as well as participation in general education. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is a federal law that sets guidelines for schools to ensure all students receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), as required by law. Students with disabilities are those students evaluated and found eligible. The disability categories under IDEA are listed below:

• Autism

• Developmental Delay

• Emotional Disability

• Hearing Impairment

• Intellectual Disability

• Multiple Disabilities

• Orthopedic Impairment

• Other Health Impairment

• Preschool Severe Delay

• Specific Learning Disability

• Speech or Language Impairment

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Visual Impairment

Special Education services are based upon the individual needs of the student through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

In order to qualify for special education a student must be identified by a multidisciplinary evaluation team as having a disability. In addition, the evaluation team must determine that the child is in need of special education.

If you have any questions related to services provided, please contact the Exceptional Student Services Office at 928-642-1040