PUBLIC NOTICE ANNUAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES & PROGRAMS, SERVICES FOR GIFTED STUDENTS, & SERVICES FOR PROTECTED HANDICAPPED STUDENTS The Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit and its 17 Member School Districts, Charter Schools and Private Rehabilitation Residential Institutions (PRRIs) Conneaut School District Montessori Regional Charter School Corry Area School District Perseus House Charter School of Excellence Crawford Central School District Tidioute Community Charter School The School District of the City of Erie Robert Benjamin Wiley Fairview School District Community Charter School Fort LeBoeuf School District Erie RISE Leadership Charter School General McLane School District Girard School District Gannondale Harbor Creek School District Harborcreek Youth Services Iroquois School District Millcreek Township School District North East School District Northwestern School District PENNCREST School District Union City Area School District Warren County School District Wattsburg Area School District Notice to Parents According to state and federal special education regulations, annual public notice to parents of children who reside within a school district is required regarding child find responsibilities. School districts, intermediate units and charter schools are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for services via Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For additional information related to Section 504/Chapter 15 services, the parent may refer to Section 504, Chapter 15, and the Basic Education Circular entitle Implementation of Chapter 15. Also, school districts are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for gifted services via 22 PA Code Chapter 16. For additional information regarding gifted services, the parent may refer to 22 PA Code Chapter 16. If a student is both gifted and eligible for Special Education, the procedure in IDEA and Chapter 14 shall take precedence. This notice shall inform parents throughout the school district, intermediate unit, and charter schools of the child identification activities and of the procedures followed to ensure confidentiality of information pertaining to students with disabilities or eligible young children. In addition to this public notice, each school district, intermediate unit and charter schools shall publish written information in the handbook and on the website. Children ages 3-21 can be eligible for special education programs and services. If parents believe that the child may be eligible for special education, the parent should contact the school district where the child attends or the Director of Special Education for the NW Tri-County Intermediate Unit identified at the end of this public notice. Children age three through the age of admission to first grade are also eligible if they have developmental delays and, as a result, need special education and related services. Developmental delay is defined as a child who is less than the age of beginners and at least three years of age and is considered to have a developmental delay when one of the following exists: (i) The childs score, on a developmental assessment device, on an assessment instrument which yields a score in months, indicates that the child is delayed by 25 percent of the childs chronological age in one or more developmental areas, or (ii) The child is delayed in one or more of the developmental areas, as documented by test performance of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean on standardized tests. Developmental areas include cognitive, communicative, physical, social/emotional and self-help. For additional information you may contact the Early Intervention Department at the Intermediate Unit. (See Evaluation Process below for contact info.) Evaluation Process Each school district, intermediate unit and charter schools have a procedure in place by which parents can request an evaluation. For information about procedures applicable to your child, contact the school, which your child attends. Parents of preschool age children, age three through five, may request an evaluation in writing by addressing a letter to the Early Intervention Supervisor, NW Tri-County Intermediate Unit #5, 252 Waterford St., Edinboro, PA 16412 or call 1-800-677-5610, ext. 8461. Consent School entities cannot proceed with an evaluation or reevaluation, or with the initial provision of special education and related services, without the written consent of the parents. For additional information related to consent, please refer to the Procedural Safeguards Notice which can be found at the PaTTAN website at www.patten.net. Once written parental consent is obtained, the school district, intermediate unit, charter schools, or PRRIs will proceed with the evaluation process. If the parent disagrees with the evaluation, the parent can request an independent education evaluation at public expense. Program Development Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified professionals and the parents determine whether the child is eligible. If the child is eligible, the individualized education program (IEP) team meets, develops the program, and determines the educational placement. Once the IEP team develops the program and determines the educational placement, school district staff, intermediate unit staff or charter school staff will issue a notice of recommended educational placement/prior written notice. Your written consent is required before initial services can be provided. The parent has the right to revoke consent after initial placement. 09/08/13
↧