Northville Public Schools marks 50 years of IDEA with Cook School celebration and program update

Cook School hosted a board meeting presentation Tuesday evening spotlighting 50 years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and tracing the district’s development of specialized programs that serve students with complex disabilities.

The event combined historical remarks from long-time staff and retirees, classroom demonstrations and a summary of recent program enhancements. “We celebrate students and we honor the past 50 years of progress made toward ensuring that students with disabilities receive the supports and services that they deserve,” said Mrs. Bughar, a Cook staff member who introduced the school’s program and guests.

Why it matters: Northville’s Cook program grew out of local deinstitutionalization efforts and became a district-run set of center programs; the district noted…