Special Education

SERVICES FOR SCHOOL AGE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS
The Penn-Trafford School District provides a free, appropriate public education to exceptional students according to state and federal mandates and local policy. 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, deafness, hearing impairment, mental retardation, multihandicap, 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), biennial Education Reevaluation (ER), supportive intervention in the regular class, supplemental 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 intensity of the intervention. Parents are an integral part of the IEP Team and are encouraged to be physically present at the IEP meeting. The district will make every effort to insure parent participation including notice in writing and documented phone calls. Prior to the initiation of services, parents are presented a "Notice of Recommended Educational Placement" (NOREP) with which they may agree or disagree. If parents disagree with the program being recommended, they have the right to request a pre-hearing conference, mediation, and/or a due process hearing.

TYPES OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
The Penn-Trafford School District offers a variety of placements for exceptional students both within and outside of the school district borders. Placements outside the district are primarily for students with more complicated needs and take place at special educational centers, approved private schools, or private licensed facilities as are appropriate. Approximately 95% of exceptional students are serviced within district schools through learning support, life skills support (elementary school), speech and language, hearing support, vision and mobility support, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral support and autistic support. Westmoreland Intermediate Unit #7 (WIU #7) special education staff and school district staff play a significant role in each building blending special classroom work with regular classroom accommodations.

SERVICES FOR PROTECTED HANDICAPPED STUDENTS CHAPTER 15
The Penn-Trafford School District provides 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 programs and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student's abilities. 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 an aspect of the school program. Services and protections for protected handicapped students are different from those applicable to all eligible students enrolled in exceptional programs.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF STUDENT RECORDS
The privacy rights of parents and students is protected by federal legislation known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (Buckley Amendment or FERPA), state regulations (Chapter 14-Special Education Services and Programs, chapter 12-Student rights and Responsibilities), and district policy. The different categories of information maintained by the school district are as follows: directory information, personally identifiable information, and educational and health records.

Directory information can be released without consent and includes data which would be considered not harmful or an invasion of p rivacy if disclosed. This information includes, but is not limited to the following: students name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, courses taken participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by student.

Personally identifiable information includes but is not limited to the social security number and photograph of the student.

Educational records include but are not limited to progress reports, attendance, standardized test scores, grades, aptitude/interest information and standardized mental ability scores.

Health records include but are not limited to medical and dental forms, immunizations, emergency cards and state required testing results.

With the exception of receiving school districts, educational and health records, and personally identifiable information, cannot be disclosed or released without written parental consent, or if a student is eighteen or older, without his or her written consent. Where consent is required, it must be clear to parents and/or the student: the records that are being disclosed, the purpose of the disclosure, and the party or class of parties to whom the disclosure is being made.

Requests for release of educational records (excluding exceptional students) and health records are to be conducted at the guidance and nurses' offices of each school respectively. Release of the educational records for exceptional students are to be initiated through the Pupil Personnel Office at the Penn-Trafford School District Administration Building.

PARENTS' RIGHTS
School records are always open and available to parents and only to school officials who have a legitimate "educationally relevant" relationship to the student.

Parents may request changes and/or challenge information and file complaints concerning alleged violations. The school district maintains a written record of approved disclosures.

Any questions regarding this information should be directed to: Mrs. Peggy DiNinno at (724) 744-4496.

Screening
The Penn-Trafford School District uses the following methods for identifying and evaluating the needs of potential exceptional students.

• Enrollment Information -- A students special education status is reported by parents or guardians.
• Early Intervention Program -- All students who are transitioning into school age programs are reported by the WIU #7. Headstart is a secondary source.
• Instructional Consultation Team -- any student still struggling after implementation of instructional support within the regular classroom can be recommended by the parent or principal for a multi-disciplinary evaluation.
• Speech and Language Screening -- Evaluations are conducted by the district for students as requested by the parents and teachers.
• Gifted Screening Report -- A multi-criterion matrix which incorporates standardized measures of student achievement and ability, and teacher and principal observations and recommendations.
• Health Screening Reports -- (as required by Section 1402 of the PA School code)
• Annually --
  • Hearing evaluation at grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 11
  • Vision, height, and weight at all grades
  • Dental evaluation at grades K, 3, and 7
  • Scoliosis screening at grades 6 and 7
  • Physical exams required for K, 6, and 11
  
  Questions about special education and all of the services offered by Penn-Trafford or the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit should be directed to Mr. Gregory Karazsia at 724-744-4496.