Exceptional
Children's Program
A broad range of services
is provided by the Exceptional Children's Program. It enables the
system to meet the diverse needs of children with disabilities.
Exceptional children's
services are available to students whose educational progress is adversely
affected by disabilities such as:
Related supportive services
such as speech/language, occupational, transportation, health, and
physical therapy are available.
Does
your child need special services?
When a teacher, parent, or other involved person recognizes that a
child is exhibiting developmental problems or that a child's educational
needs are not being met, he or she will provide in writing the reason
for referral. The written statement should address the specific concerns
and should site the child's current strengths and weaknesses or needs.
The referral shall be given to the principal of the school, the child's
teacher or other school professional, or the superintendent or other
appointed official of the local educational agency.
Schools have two kinds
of committees, or teams, that meet regularly to discuss the special
needs of students. One such committee, the Student Assistance Team,
helps develop practical interventions for students who may be experiencing
difficulty in school.
The success of these interventions,
some as simple as changing a child's seat in the classroom or reassigning
the child to a different teacher, provides information that is useful
in determining whether a referral to the school's Individualized Education
Program (IEP) Team is indicated. This committee is responsible for
receiving referrals and arranging for evaluations for students who
may need special education and related services. If the student qualifies
for special education, the IEP Team will invite parents to participate
in a meeting to place the child and to develop an IEP for their child.
Parents who continue to
have questions about the special education process or who are
not satisfied that their child's needs have been adequately assessed
in the local school may wish to discuss their concerns with the
program administrator for exceptional children. This administrator
directs all special education programs in the school system and
may be the best local resource for problem solving and mediation.
Other alternatives and procedures available to parents of exceptional
children are outlined in the Handbook on Parents Rights. This
publication also includes information on rights to confidentiality
and access to records, and the right to file complaints. Copies
of the Handbook on Parents Rights are available at any public
school or in the school system's central office.