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Special Education Screening, Evaluation & Placement Procedures The School District uses the following procedures, as required by law, for locating, identifying and evaluating specialized needs of school age students who may require special programs or services: The district routinely conducts screenings of children's hearing acuity (grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 11), visual acuity (all grade levels), and speech and language skills (kindergarten and teacher referral). Gross motor and fine motor skills, academic skills and social emotional skills are assessed by classroom teachers on an ongoing basis. Identified needs from all of these screening sources are noted within the child's official file. These school records are available to parents, and to school staff who work with the child on a direct or indirect basis. Information from the records is released to other persons or agencies only with appropriate authorization which requires written signed permission by parents. If
you have concerns... Screening information will be used by the Instructional Support Team (IST) or Child Study Team within the child's school to meet his or her specific needs or, to document the need for further evaluation. If additional support is needed... If a child requires additional services, the instructional support team/child study team will make modifications to accommodate the child's learning style, behavior, physical limitations or speech problem. Parents will be notified if their child is receiving instructional support. If a child does not make progress with IST involvement, parents will be asked to give written permission for a multidisciplinary evaluation (MDE). This evaluation will be coordinated by the district school psychologist who will also participate in the evaluation process. Parent and school cooperation is important... After all evaluations are completed, an Evaluation Report will be completed with parent involvement. This report includes specific recommendations on how to help the child as well as whether the child is eligible for any special education program. Parents are then invited to participate in a meeting where the results of this multidisciplinary evaluation will be reviewed and an Individual Educational Program (IEP) will be developed for those students who are eligible for special education services. All parents are presented with a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) which formally specifies the school district's special education recommendations. Parents may disagree with the program being recommended and may wish to suggest other alternatives. Either the parent or school district may use a mediation or due process hearing as an impartial method to arrive at an appropriate program for their child.
In compliance with state and federal law, the Pine-Richland School District will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services, or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student's abilities. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student, the child must be of school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in, or access to, any aspect of the school program. These services and protections for "protected handicapped students" are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs. To qualify for services as a "Protected Handicapped Student" the referred person must be of an age to which public education is offered in his/her school district. For further information on the evaluation procedures and provision of services to protected handicapped students and procedures for parent request for a protected handicapped student service agreement, please contact Dr. Bruce Golmic, Director of Special Education at 625-7773, ext. 6500. For further information on the evaluation procedures and provision of services to protected handicapped students and procedures for parent request for a protected handicapped student service agreement, please contact Paula Schmitt, Director of Special Education, 724-625-7773, ext. 6501. Services for School Age Exceptional Children The school district provides a free, appropriate public education to exceptional students according to state and federal mandates. To be eligible, the child must be of school age, need specially designed instruction and meet eligibility criteria for mentally gifted and/or one or more of the following physical or mental disabilities as set forth in the Pennsylvania State Standards: autism/pervasive developmental disorder, blindness/visual impairment, deaf-ness/hearing impairment, mental retardation, multi-handicap, neurological impairment, physical disability, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, and speech/language impairment. Services designed to meet the needs of eligible students include the annual development of an individualized education program (IEP), periodic multidisciplinary reevaluation, supportive intervention in the regular class or in a special education resource program, placement in a part-time or full-time special education class in a regular school or placement in a full-time special education class outside of the regular school. The extent of special education services and the location for the delivery of such services are determined by the parents and staff at the IEP team meeting and is based on the student's identified needs and abilities, chronological age and the level of intensity of the specified intervention. The school district also provides related services, such as transportation, speech and language therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy that are necessary to enable the student to derive educational benefits. Services for Students in Nonpublic Schools Public special education is accessible to resident students attending nonpublic schools by permitting the non- public school student to enroll on a part-time dual enrollment basis in a special education program operated in a public school. Special education programs are accessible to nonpublic school students through dual enrollment following the multidisciplinary team evaluation and the development of an individualized education program (IEP). Parents of nonpublic school students who suspect that their child is exceptional and in need of special education may request a multi-disciplinary team evaluation of their child through a written request to Paula Schmitt, Director of Special Education, 702 Warrendale Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044. Public Notice — Student Records As a parent of a student in the Pine-Richland School District, you have certain rights in regard to your child’s school records. These rights are guaranteed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 1974, and the Pennsylvania State Board of Education Regulations. These rights apply whether your child is exceptional or non-exceptional. You have a right to review, inspect, or obtain a copy of the records. You may make a written request for copies of your child’s records at a fee not to exceed duplicating costs. If you believe that any information is inaccurate or misleading, you may challenge the contents of the records. You have the right to refuse individual consent where such permission is needed for releasing certain student information. Should you feel the district is not providing these rights you may file a complaint with the FERPA office, Department of Education, Room 4511, Switzer Building, Washington, D.C. 20202. If a child transfers to another school system, records will be forwarded after notification of enrollment is received from the new school. According to the FERPA, 1974, various non-confidential information can be released to outside agencies without your consent. This directory information consists of name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weights and heights of members athletic teams, dates and attendance, degrees and awards and other similar information. If you do not want directory information released, please notify the district in writing. The district protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information regarding exceptional and protected handicapped students in accord with state and federal law and the district's student records policy. Services for Disabled Preschool Age Children Act 212, the Early Intervention System Act, entitles all preschool age children with disabilities to appropriate early intervention services. Young children experiencing developmental delays or physical or mental disabilities are eligible for early intervention services. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare is responsible for providing services to children from birth through two years of age. Contact St. Peter’s Child Development Center, Inc. 2500 Baldwick Road, Suite, 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15205. The Pennsylvania Department is responsible for providing services to preschool age children from ages three through five. Contact Project DART at 412-394-5736.
More Information is available Information about parent rights, mediation or Due Process Procedures; specific Special Education Services and programs offered by the district and the district’s Educational Records policy are available upon request from the building principal in a child’s school. |
