Metro Technology Centers

SPECIAL EDUCATION | SECTION 504 Services

Metro Technology Centers is committed to providing an equal opportunity for students with disabilities to succeed in pursuing their education and career goals. Every qualified student with a disability presents an individual set of needs. We address these needs with a full team approach in order to best serve our students.

Metro is a non-degree granting, post-secondary, educational institution. This means that we follow the same guidelines for disability / "special education" services as a college or university. However, as we serve secondary (high school) students, some unique differences exist between services at a high school, services at a college or university, and services here - a career technology environment.

Use the links and sections below to find out more.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following links provide general information about disability / special education services at Metro Technology Centers and within the careertech environment in Oklahoma.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES - OVERVIEW

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

DEPARTMENT OF CAREERTECH - SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES

Meet the Special Education Liaison

Tim Lankford

Mr. Lankford acts as Metro Tech's Special Education Liaison. In this role, he performs the duties typical of a special education director and 504 coordinator. He holds his license in special education from the Oklahoma Department of Education and has been previously licensed in Indiana and Tennessee. Mr. Lankford has over ten years in education ranging from elementary through adult and university education to work with national non-profits. He obtained his BSEd from the University of Memphis, followed by an MAT from Marian University and an M.S. from Purdue University. Additionally, he is a Marine Corps veteran, DOG-father, coffee connoisseur, gamer, and reading fanatic. He hopes to publish a novel before his mid-forties.

You can reach Mr. Lankford at [email protected].

FOR STUDENTS

Do you qualify for services under an IEP or a 504 plan? Do you know if you ever had one in school? Maybe you have a physical or mental impairment that qualifies you for additional services, but you've never checked? No matter your status as a high school or adult student, we can help you figure out if you qualify for services and work out a plan to aid in your success at Metro Tech. Follow the links below for more information.

TYPES OF STUDENTS
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ADULT STUDENTS

All students are encouraged to explore our FAQ Section in order to discover additional information about how services are offered at Metro Tech.
 
CONTACT SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
You can contact Special Education Services by emailing [email protected].

FOR SENDING SCHOOLS

Metro Tech strives to be an outstanding partner with our sending schools by providing accommodations and services for secondary students qualified for such under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Many references will be made to the Oklahoma Department of Careertech and the federal Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education. Please see our Department of Careertech - Resources Page for more information. Read on and follow the links for additional information.

THE PROCESS
For several years prior to the 2021-2022 school year, Metro Tech provided services as a part of our Nondiscrimination / Title IX office. During this time, several processes which are required by the State of Oklahoma and the Office of Civil Rights were not clearly defined for our organization or our partnered, sending schools. This resulted in communication roadblocks which ultimately left many students unidentified or identified late into their programs.

By making special education services its own entity and assigning a licensed, special education liaison to oversee these services, Metro Tech is developing procedures and processes which will: ensure aid to every student receiving services and keep our sending schools and ourselves in compliance with applicable special education / disability laws and policies.

SENDING SCHOOL INFORMATION GUIDE

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
As a separate school that your students attend, Metro Tech is not just a participant with the IEP / 504 process, we are another educational institution that requires full access to a student's special services records in order to determine what accommodations and services will best work for them at our institution. The following documents are those that we require:

• Current / most recent individual education plan (IEP), [or]
• Current / most recent Section 504 plan, [and]
• Most recent MEEGS report (if applicable), [or]
• Most recent 504 eligibility documentation (if applicable), [and]
• Any special medical or behavior plans (if applicable)

The reason for obtaining these documents is twofold. First, we have found that many times a student's IEP / 504 and MEEGS / qualifying documentation do not match which leads to a mismatch in services they may need be entitled to. Additionally, if a student continues with us following their senior year, having these documents saves us time in obtaining them and providing services under a new Section 504 plan.

DOCUMENT TRANSMISSION
When our secure document transmission portal becomes available, each sending school will receive unique credentials for logging in, transmitting, and receiving secure documents related to the special education status of students. This will allow greater security of records and better tracking of requests for the same.

Secure Document Transmission Portal - COMING SOON

CONTACT SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
You can contact Special Education Services by emailing [email protected] or by filling out the form above.

METRO TECH STAFF

Metro Tech Staff Area - COMING SOON

When this section becomes available, staff will be able to login using their Metro Tech credentials and access special services resources in one location.

Metro Technology Centers believes in the worth of all individuals and is committed to equal opportunity for each employee, student or any person visiting a District campus. Metro Technology Centers does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, religion, pregnancy, or genetic information or disability in its programs, services, activities and employment. Metro Technology Centers will provide equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.