Special Education Guidelines

Public Notice on Screening and Evaluation

The Western Beaver County School District uses the following procedures for locating, identifying, and evaluating special needs of school-aged students requiring special programs or services. These procedures as required by law are as follows: The district, as prescribed by Section 1402 of the School Code routinely conducts screenings of a student's hearing acuity (K-3), visual acuity (annually), and speech and language skills (annually). Classroom teachers, instructional support teachers, and guidance counselors on an ongoing basis informally assess gross motor and fine motor skills, academic skills, and social and emotional skills. All students are screened for basic reading skills in grades K through 3, and progress in reading, writing, and math is monitored at all levels by local and state assessments. Specified needs from all of these screening sources are noted within the student's folder.

Parents with concerns regarding their child may contact building principals at any time to request a screening or evaluation of their child. Communication with parents of a student with disabilities and/or parents of gifted students shall be in English or the native language of the parent and student.

Screening information will be used by the Instructional Support Team, grades K-6 and the school guidance counselors (K-12) within the student's school to meet his/her specific needs or to document the need for further evaluation. If it is determined that a student needs additional services, the Instructional Support Team and/or the school guidance counselors will make adjustments relative to such things as the student's learning style, behavior, physical limitations, and speech and language problems to be more in keeping with traditional classroom expectancies. The parents are members of the Instructional Support Team. If a student does not make progress with Instructional Support Team involvement and or services provided through the school guidance counselors, parents will be asked to give written permission for further evaluation. This process is called Multidisciplinary Evaluation (MDE). The parents are members of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).

If it is determined that a student may possibly be mentally gifted, the student's records will be reviewed, and information will be gathered from the student's parents and teachers. If the data supports a need, parents will be asked to give written permission for further evaluation. This process is called Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation (GME). The parents are members of the Gifted Multidisciplinary Team (GMT).

After Multidisciplinary Evaluation or Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation is completed, an Evaluation Report (ER) or a Gifted Written Report (GWR) will be compiled and will include specific recommendations for the types of interventions and/or acceleration and enrichment necessary to deal with the student's specified needs. The results of the Multidisciplinary Evaluation (MDE) or Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation (GME) will be discussed with parents. If necessary, an Individual Education Program (IEP) or a Gifted Individual Education Program (GIEP) will be developed for specialized services for the student.

Parents of students with a disability are then presented with a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) and parents of gifted students are presented with a Notice of Recommended Assignment (NORA) with which they may agree or disagree. If parents disagree with the program recommendation, the issue may be taken to mediation or a due process hearing.

Information about parent rights, mediation or due process procedures: specific special education services and programs and gifted education services and program offered by the district; and the district's educational records policy are available upon request from the building principal in a student's school. A parent may request that the district initiate a screening or evaluation of their child's specified needs at any time by contacting the building principal. Further information about these procedures may be obtained by calling the school psychologist at 724-643-4910+8+2016.

All information collected as part of an individual student referral or evaluation is treated in a confidential manner and does not become a part of the student's permanent record file.

Procedures for the Identification of Protected Handicapped Students

The school principal, Section 504 coordinator, or the parent(s) can refer students to be considered as protected handicapped students to the school counselor.

The school counselor will provide the parent(s) with the prepared Notice of District Initiated Evaluation and a copy of the procedural safeguards notice.

The parent(s) will obtain a written medical report or letter from their physician or private evaluator, describing the handicapping condition and making reference to specific needs. A listing of requested aids, services, or accommodation should also be included with justification for the request.

The school counselor or Section 504 coordinator will schedule a planning meeting that will include direct service providers of the professional staff, the parents, and individuals requested by the school district or the parents to provide specific information regarding the disabling condition, which will afford "protected handicapped" status. This team will review all data provided by the parents and by other professionals and the student's strengths and needs and will determine eligibility and develop a Service Agreement, if needed.

If the team determines that the student is not eligible, the family will be notified by the Section 504 Coordinator in writing and Procedural Safeguards for protected handicapped students will be provided.

If the team determines that the student is eligible and develops a Service Agreement, implementation of this agreement will occur after it is approved by the district Superintendent. The principal , Section 504 Coordinator, or the school counselor will make all of the necessary arrangements to implement the Service Agreement.

The Service Agreement will be reviewed annually with the parents and with the school team for termination or revision.

Time, Date and Location of Screening

Hearing screening is conducted annually for kindergarten through grade four and grades seven and eleven at each school building. Special needs students receive hearing acuity screening in every grade.

Vision Screening is conducted annually in each school building. Handicapped students receive visual acuity screening in every grade.

Dental screening is conducted for grades one, three, five, and ten in each school building.

Physical exams are conducted in grades one, six and eleven during the year in each school building.

Scoliosis screening is conducted in grades six and seven. Screening is done during physical education classes in the school building.

Student Profiles

In accordance with Chapter 3 of the State Board of Education Regulations, student profiles are generated for schools in all Pennsylvania school districts each year. Furthermore, school profile interpretation manuals have been generated and are available with the school profiles in each principal's office and at Central Administration. Anyone wishing to review a school profile may contact the district superintendent (724-643-9310) or the appropriate principal to schedule a mutually convenient time.

Mode of Communication

If a person does not understand any part of this notice, he or she should request an explanation by contacting the School Psychologist at 724-643-4910+8+2016.

The school district will arrange for an interpreter for parents with limited English proficiency. If a parent is deaf or blind or has no written language, the school district will arrange for communication of this notice in the mode normally used by the parent (e.g., sign language, Braille, or oral communication).

Protected Handicapped Students Public Notice

In compliance with state and federal law, Western Beaver County 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.

The services and protections for a Protected Handicapped Student are distinct from those that apply to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

In order to qualify as a Protected Handicapped Student, the child must be of an age when public education is offered in his/her school district and with a physical or mental disability, which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to any aspect of the school program.

For further information on the evaluation procedures and provision of services to protected handicapped students, contact the building principal or Section 504 coordinator (724-643-9310).

Confidentiality

The Western Beaver County School District protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information regarding all students including students with disabilities, children thought to have disabilities, protected handicapped students (if not protected by IDEA '04 or Pennsylvania's Special Education Regulations) and children who are identified as gifted, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable federal and state laws, policies and regulations.

Education Records means those records that are directly related to the student, including stored in computers, through media, and on videotape, which are maintained by an educational agency or a party acting for the agency. "Educational Agency", for purpose of this notice, means the local school district, and/or the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit. For all students, the educational agency maintains education records that include, but are not limited to:

  • Personal Identifiable Information - Confidential information that includes, but is not limited to the student's name, name of parents and other family members, the address of the student or student's family, and personal information or personal characteristics which would make the student's identity easily traceable.
  • Directory Information - Information contained in an education record of a student which would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy, if disclosed. It includes, but is not limited to, the student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study (secondary students), participation in officially-recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and the name of the most previous educational agency or institution attended.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords to parents, and to students over 18 years of age, certain rights with respect to students' education records. They are:

  1. Parents (or students over 18 years of age) have the right to inspect and review the student's education record. The school district will comply with the request to inspect and review education records without unnecessary delay and before any meeting regarding an IEP or due process hearing, but in no case more than 45 days after the request has been made. Requests should be submitted in writing (indicating the records the parents wish to inspect) to the school principal or other appropriate school official. Parents have the right to a response from the school district to a reasonable written request for explanations and interpretations of the records. Parents have the right to request copies of the records. While the district cannot charge a fee to search for or retrieve information, it may charge a copying fee, as long as it does not effectively prevent the parents from exercising their right to inspect and review the records. Parents have the right to appoint a representative to inspect and review their child's records. If an education record contains information on more than one child, parents (or students over 18 years of age) have the right only to inspect and review the information related to the specific child.

  2. If the parents (or a student over 18 years of age) think(s) information in an education record is inaccurate, misleading or violates the privacy or other rights of the child, an amendment of the record may be requested. Requests should be made in writing and clearly identify the part of the record requested to be changed and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. The school district will decide whether or not to amend the record and will notify the parents (or student over 18), in writing, of its decision. If the school district refuses to amend the record, it will notify the parents (or students over 18) of their right to a hearing to challenge the disputed information. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parents or student (if 18 or older) when notified of the right to a hearing.

The school district will inform parents (or students over 18) when personally identifiable information is no longer needed to provide educational services too child. Such information must be destroyed at the request of the parent (or student over 18). Parents (or students over 18) have a right to receive a copy of the material to be destroyed; however, a permanent record of the student's name, address, and telephone number, his or her grades, attendance record, classes attended, grade level completed, and year completed may be maintained without time limitations. "Destruction" of records means physical destruction or removal of personal identifiers from information so that the information is no longer personally identifiable. The school district will provide upon request, a listing of the types and locations of education records maintained, the school officials responsible for these records, and the school personnel authorized to see personally identifiable information. Such personnel receive training and instruction regarding confidentiality. The school district keeps a record of parties obtaining access to education records, including the name of the party, the date access was given, and the purpose for which the party is authorized to use the records.

Parents (or students over 18) have the right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FEPPA authorizes disclosure without consent. "Consent" means: the parent(s) [or students over 18] have [has] been fully informed regarding the activity requiring consent, in the native language or other mode of communication; they understand and agree in writing to the activities; and, they understand that the consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time. Information may be disclosed without consent to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A "school official" is a person employed by the district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); person or company with whom the district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor medical consultant or therapist); or a person serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his/her professional responsibility. Directory information as defined above, may be released without parent consent. Parents have the right to refuse to permit an agency to designate or release any or all of the above information as directory information. Upon request, the district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

The school district is required by the National Defense Authorization Act (Pub.L. No 107-107) to provide military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as provided to postsecondary institutions or to prospective employers; and shall provide students' names, addresses, and telephone listings to military recruiters, when requested, unless a parent has opted out of providing such information in writing to the school principal.

Parents (or students over 18) have a right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. Complaints may be filed with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Special education records including gifted support records of each student are maintained at the Special Education Office. The complete records are kept for a period of five (5) years after completion of the student's program or the student's graduation from high school.

Special Education records that will be destroyed following the five (5) year period are all IEP's or GIEP's with the exception of the initial and final IEP or GIEP. Parents of students and students that graduated or left this school prior to the 2004-2005 school year are hereby notified that if they wish for a copy of any "IEP or GIEP" information before it is deleted/destroyed, they must make that request to Ashley Santarsiero, special education administrative assistant, by November 1, 2009. The scheduled destruction date of this information is December 1, 2009.

HIPPA

The Western Beaver County School District maintains the privacy of protected health information of all students in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). A copy of the HASD Notice of Privacy Practices may be obtained at the Central Administration Office.

Student Rights Survey

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents and students who are 18 or emancipated minors ("eligible students") certain rights regarding the Districts conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:

  1. Consent - before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas ("protected information survey") if the survey is funded in whole or part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education:

  1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student's parent;

    Mental or psychological problems of the student or student's family;

    Sex behavior or attitudes;

    Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

    Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

    Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as lawyers, doctors or ministers; Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

    Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

  2. Receive - notice and opportunity to opt out of:

    Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;

    Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the District or its agent, and necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or and physical exam or screening permitted or requested under State law; and

    Activities including collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

  3. Inspect - upon request and before administration or use:

    Protected information surveys of students;

    Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the referenced marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

    Board policy has been developed regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. Parents and eligible students will be notified of activities and afforded an opportunity to opt a student out of participation.

Special Education Programs for Students with Disabilities and Gifted Students

The Western Beaver County School District operates programs for students with disabilities and gifted students in accordance with Chapter 14 and Chapter 16.

Learning Support Programs

Students involved in learning support programs may spend the entire day to a part of their day in their regular grade level class. Learning support students can receive differentiated instruction in the regular education classroom to the maximum extent appropriate. Learning support students participate in subjects (as noted in their IEP), related arts classes and activities with classmates in the regular education environment. Alternative or adaptive testing, curriculum and expected levels of achievement are included in each eligible student's IEP.

Students participating in learning support programs may be identified as having a specific learning disability, mental retardation, autism, visually and hearing impairment, physically handicap, and/or otherwise health impaired.

Life Skills Support Program

Students participating in life skills support programs receive services at Western Beaver Junior Senior High School (grades 7-12) and through the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit. The educational program for these students emphasizes life skills curriculum and community based experiences.

Physical Support Programs

Students who are physically handicapped are assigned to special education programs according to cognitive functioning and needs. Special education teachers as well as physical and occupational therapists and school nurses monitor needs of students with physical handicaps to assure that appropriate accommodations are being met.

Emotional Support Programs

At the elementary level and secondary levels, the district utilizes in-house learning support/emotional support, the services of the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit, and various private schools to meet the needs of students with emotional disabilities.

Emotional support programs are for those students whose behavior interferes with the ability to learn in the regular classroom environment. Students participate in this program on an itinerant to full-time basis. Students participating in emotional support programs may be identified as emotionally disturbed and/or learning disabled.

Speech and Language Support Programs

Speech and language support programs operate at each school through the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit. Speech and language therapists consult with teachers to assist with the maintenance of speech and language development.

Students in need of continued work in the areas of language development and speech articulation may be identified as eligible for speech and language services after participating in screening activities and involvement of the IST teacher.

Eligible students may participate in speech and language small group therapy sessions. In order to be eligible for the speech and language program, the student's disability must interfere with classroom performance.

Transition

Eligible students who are 14 years of age or older in special education support programs must have transition goals and objectives written as part of the Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Transition is defined as those goals and objectives that will assist students in making the transition from school to either gainful employment or post secondary education after graduation.

Western Beaver County School District provides annual activities for all students (grades 9-12) to be involved in areas of vocational aptitude and vocational exploration to survey career interests.

Transition planning is done in cooperation with the transition coordinator(s), special education teacher(s), guidance counselor(s), and community and outside agencies.

Gifted Support Programs

The goal of the gifted support program is to encourage the development of intellectual and creative ability for the exceptional student. This program provides special services and programs not ordinarily provided in the regular education program.

Participation in gifted support is based upon the individual student's eligibility and need for acceleration and/or enrichment. State mandated criteria for the gifted support program must be met.

Early Intervention Services

The Western Beaver County School District in conjunction with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27 provides an ongoing system to locate, identify and evaluate young children, ages 3 through kindergarten, with special needs that are likely to interfere with learning development. Once students are identified as eligible for special education services, an IEP is written and services are delivered through the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27.

Deaf or Hearing Support Programs

The Western Beaver County School District in conjunction with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27 provides an ongoing system to locate, identify, and evaluate students with hearing impairments.

The hearing support teacher consults with students, teachers, and interpreters for appropriate educational planning for hearing support students in regular and special classes. Also, the hearing support teacher monitors needs for assistive hearing devices as well as provides appropriate training for the use of such devices.

Autistic Support Program

The Western Beaver County School District in conjunction with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27 provides services to those students identified with autism/pervasive developmental disorder. Determination of autism/pervasive developmental disorder must include an assessment and a report by a physician qualified to give a diagnosis and by a school psychologist specifying the degree and nature of the disorder. Educational programs are outlined in each student's IEP and may include but are not limited to the development of cognitive, language, social or motor skills.

Blind or Visually Impaired Support Programs

The Western Beaver County School District in conjunction with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27 provides services to those students identified as blind or visually impaired. The visual impairment must be of such a nature as to adversely affect the educational performance of the student. Determination of such impairment must include an assessment and a comprehensive report by an eye specialist outlining the nature and degree of the impairment.

The visual support teacher may consult with students and teachers regarding appropriate educational planning and for the training and use of assistive devices.

Multiple Disabilities Support Programs

The Western Beaver County School District in conjunction with the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit #27 provides services to those students identified as multi-handicapped. These students have more than one handicapping condition, including, but not limited to, profound cognitive retardation, severe language disorders, vision impairment, motor impairments, hearing disorders, and threatening health problems. The combination of disabilities results in needs that require extraordinary services.

Education programs for students with multiple handicaps are outlined in the student's IEP and may include but are not limited to acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of functional skills.

Other Services

The Western Beaver County School District provides for related services such as physical therapy and occupational therapy through private contractors. Determination of eligibility for the service of physical therapy shall be based upon a physician's recommendation and results of an evaluation conducted by a licensed physical therapist. Determination of eligibility for the service of occupational therapy shall be based on the recommendation of an MDE/IEP team and the results of an evaluation conducted by an occupational therapist.

Printed information regarding available special education services and programs and procedural safeguards as they pertain to special education is available in the office of each building principal and at the Central Administration Office.

For answers to specific questions about special education services, the screening or evaluation process, or any other information, please dial 724-643-4190.

Services for Preschool Children

Act 212, the Early Intervention Services System Act, entitles all preschool children with disabilities to appropriate early intervention services.

Young children who are experiencing developmental delays or physical or mental disabilities and their families are eligible for early intervention services. At-risk children are eligible for screening and tracking.

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare is responsible for providing services to infants and toddlers, defined as children from birth through two years of age. Contact the Base Service Unit, 1070 Eighth Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010, 724-891-2827.

The Western Beaver County School District is responsible for providing services to preschool children from ages three through five. These services are provided by the BVIU. Contact the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit at 724-774-7800.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

The Western Beaver County School District will not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices, based on race, color, national origin sex or any other legally protected classification. Announcement of this policy is in accordance with state and federal laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 and Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Employees and participants who have an inquiry or complaint of harassment or discrimination or who need information about accommodations for handicapped persons should contact the Coordinator of Special Education at 724-643-4910.

No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Public Law 107-111, better known as the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB), is one of the most comprehensive education reform plans ever passed by the US Congress. The document can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/ESEA02/107-110.pdf. Additional information concerning NCLB is available at http://www.nclb.gov.

NCLB 1111 (h)(6)(A) requires that the school district annually inform parents regarding professional qualifications of the student's classroom teachers. Each teacher employed by the Western Beaver County School District has been identified as being highly qualified under NCLB.

Student Accident Insurance

Student Accident Insurance information and applications will be distributed to all Western Beaver students at the beginning of the academic school year school year. The students' families pay the premiums, and coverage under the plan is provided for all school-sponsored activities including interscholastic sports. Additional forms can be obtained in each school building.

Homeless Children and Youth Act

The main goal of the McKinney Homeless Act, Public Law 103-383, is to enable these children to enroll in, attend and succeed in school.

Children are considered homeless if they are living with a parent in a domestic violence shelter; individuals and/or families living with relatives or friends due to lack of housing; runaway children and children and youth who have been abandoned or forced out of their homes by parents or other caretakers; children or migrant families who lack adequate housing; and school-age unwed mothers or expectant mothers living in houses for unwed mothers if they have no other available living accommodations.

Western Beaver County School District

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