What Is Special Education?
Special Education is defined as specially-designed instruction to needs of an exceptional student.  Exceptional children are those who require specially-designed instruction in order to achieve their educational potentials.  Individualized services and programs are available for children who are determined to need special education due to the following conditions:
  • Autism/Pervasive Development Disorder
  • Blindness or Visual Impairment
  • Deafness or Hearing Impairment
  • Mentally Gifted
  • Mental Retardation
  • Multi-Handicapped
  • Neurological Impairment
  • Other Health Impairment
  • Physical Disability
  • Serious Emotional Disturbance
  • Specific Learning Disability
  • Speech and Language Impairment

 

Levels of Intervention
Depending upon the student's identified needs, any one of the following placements may be recommended:
  • Supportive Intervention in the regular classroom
  • Supplemental Intervention in the regular classroom
  • Supplemental Intervention in the resource classroom
  • Part-time special education class in the regular school.
  • Full-time special education class in the regular school
  • Full-time special education class outside of the regular school

These options represent a range of services, from the least restrictive, to the more restrictive educational settings.


Referral Procedures
If you suspect that your child has a different rate of learning from what is expected, parents and/or the classroom teacher may refer a child for an evaluation by the school district.  This evaluation is conducted at no cost to the parents.  

 

Identification, Evaluation, and Placement Process
Federal and State regulations require school districts to follow established procedures to locate, identify, and evaluate students suspected of being exceptional.  These procedures include: 
  1. Screening activities
  2. Instructional support intervention to determine whether the problem can be corrected within the regular classroom, or if further evaluations are necessary
  3. An evaluation, with written parental approval, to determine the child's exceptionality, educational strengths, weaknesses and needs.
  4. A Multi-disciplinary Evaluation meeting (MDE) between the parents and school personnel, to discuss the results of the Comprehensive Evaluation Report (CER).
  5. The development of an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) by the IEP team, with a determination of appropriate educational placement.
  6. A Notice of Recommended Assignment (NORA) signed by the parents
  7. An annual review of the student's performance and a revision of the student's IEP.

Students who are not eligible to receive special education programs and services may qualify as Protected Handicapped Students.  Parents should contact the school's Principal, Guidance Counselor or Supervisor of Pupil Services for further information.

 

Parents' Rights
The rights of parents and students are protected by procedural safeguards.  A Notice of Parents' Rights is provided to all parents whose children are being considered for Special Education Services and/or upon request by parents.  

 

TO REQUEST FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS OR SERVICES, CONTACT:

Director of Pupil Personnel
Dr. Patricia A. Sample
99 Digger Drive
Tunkhannock, Pa.  18657
570-836-8266 or Fax 836-7205
pat.sample@tasd.net

The Complaint Process
If you believe your child's rights are being denied, or if your child's IEP services are not being provided, or if timelines and procedures are not being followed, the law provides a way for you to file a complaint with the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education, Division of Compliance.  An employee from the Division will investigate the complaint and send the written decision to you and school officials within 60 calendar days of receiving your complaint.  

 

The following sample letter may give parents an  idea about how to compose a letter 
requesting evaluations, reevaluations, pre-hearing conferences, or reimbursement for
 individual evaluations.  Parents should always keep the welfare of their child in clear focus, whenever they communicate with school district officials. 
Your Address
Your Phone Number at Home
Your Phone Number at Work
Date

Principal's Name
School Name
School Address

Dear Principal's Name:

I am the parent of your child's full name, whose date of birth is month/day/year.  Your child's first name is in the number grade of room number.  My child is not doing well in school, and I am requesting that a multidisciplinary evaluation be carried out to determine what the problems are, and how they can be addressed. I understand that I am a member of my child's multidisciplinary team, and I wish to give input to the team.  Please let me know how I can do this, and when this team meets, so that I may attend.

I am giving my consent for the evaluation to take place.  I understand that this evaluation must be completed within 45  school days of this request, and I can expect to receive a copy of the report in 60 school days.

Please contact me if you require any further information.

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,
Your name

 
 
 

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