Skip To Main Content

Special Services

The Special Services Department encompasses a wide array of programs and services designed to meet the needs of all BCCS students. The Special Services Department oversees programming & ensures compliance in the following areas:

  • Special Education 

  • Early Childhood Special Education

  • Section 504

  • Health Services

  • HHM (Homeless/Highly Mobile)

  • Care & Treatment

  • Foster Care

  • Homebound/Homebased  

  • Homeschool

BCCS publishes the Total Special Education System Plan for Brooklyn Center Community Schools, ISD 286 in accordance with Minnesota Rule 3525.1100. This plan includes an assurance for compliance with the federal requirements. For additional details or questions, please contact Deirdra Yarbro.

Total Special Educations System (TSES) Report

Contact a member of the Special Services Team

Deirdra Yarbro, Director of Special Services

  • Primary Contact for program management, state and community partnerships, district alignment, overall oversight, staffing, budget
  • dyarbro@bccs286.org or 763-450-3386

Krystal Jenson, Reporting and Compliance Administrative Assistant

  • Interpreters, records requests, state and federal reporting, third party billing, MARS, Sped Forms support
  • kjenson@bccs286.org or 763-450-3386

Suzanne Schlichte, Special Services Manager

  • District-wide instruction and curriculum manager, processes and procedures, extended school year programming, Insight & ECA 
  • sschlichte@bccs286.org or 763-450-3386

Debbie Erickson, Health Services Manager

  • Health services, Health Resources Center (HRC), HRC partnerships
  • derickson1@bccs286.org or 763-561-2120

Caiti Knudson, Special Services Supervisor

  • BCE Special Services Supervisor
  • cknudson@bccs286.org or 763-561-4480

Josh Harrison, Special Services Supervisor

  • BCS Special Services Supervisor
  • jharrison@bccs286.org or 763-561-2120

Anthony Turner, Behavioral and Mental Health Special Services Supervisor

  • Section 504 Process, HHM and foster care process, mental health services, social-emotional learning implementations and interventions
  • aturner@bccs286.org or 763-450-3386

Jill Fox, ECSE and AT Coordinator

  • ECSE and distirct-wide AT
  • jfox@bccs286.org or 763-561-4480

Brooklyn Center Community Schools is currently identified as being in mandatory Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) status. This designation means we are required to allocate a portion of our federal special education funds to provide early intervention to students who have not yet been identified as needing special education services, but who may require additional support to succeed. The goal of CEIS is to ensure that all students have equitable access to high-quality instruction and support, and that early challenges are addressed proactively—before the need for special education arises. For the 2025/26 school year, BCCS is utilizing these funds for direct services to students to address disproportionality in special education discipline. Services will include implementing evidence-based interventions and supporting data-driven decision-making at Brooklyn Center Secondary. We will monitor progress of interventions that are implemented and adjust our strategies as needed to best meet the needs of our students.