Alberton School District

The Missoula Area Education Cooperative (MAEC) consists of 15 public school districts located in Lake, Mineral, Missoula, and Sanders Counties. The MAEC provides special education-related services to its member school districts. All school districts comply with state and federal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA or IDEA). 

The geographic boundaries of the MAEC as well as the 20 other Cooperatives throughout the state, were established by the state of Montana in order to assist public school districts in providing educational services. Each educational cooperative varies in the type and scope of services provided to its member districts.

The organizational structure of the MAEC is comprised of a Joint Advisory Board and Management Council. All 15 member districts comprise the Joint Advisory Board. In turn, a five-member Management Council is elected from the Joint Advisory Board. The operations of the MAEC are managed by a Director and Business Manager.

Under federal and state law, public school districts must identify and evaluate children who may have a disability. Each school district develops procedures to screen students, ages 3-19. This also applies to children who are home-schooled, in private schools, or living in transition.