The Office of Education Services (OES) functions as the Central Office for the:
The Mission of the Office of Education Services is to provide quality, comprehensive, developmental, and educational opportunities for eligible students ages birth to 21 and their families so that students can develop the skills necessary to lead productive lives--vocationally, socially, and personally--resulting ultimately in the achievement of their highest potential for independent and successful lives.
OES also works to guide all educational programs in DHHS by providing information and services for the psychiatric hospital schools, the educational programs in the developmental disabilities centers, and mental health residential schools. In addition, OES provides licensure and contract support to the Division of Services for the Blind (DSB) and the Infant-Toddler Branch of Public Health.
Another vital role of OES is to serve as a liaison between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and DHHS. Through the pursuit of cooperative agreements and strong working relationships, OES works with all the Local Education Agencies (LEAs) throughout North Carolina to support their efforts on behalf of visually impaired and/or deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind students and their families. Through the Governor Morehead School Outreach Program and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resource Support Program, OES evaluates students, provides instructional expertise, and offers professional development and training to LEAs in order to support visually impaired and/or deaf or hard of hearing students and their families across North Carolina. |