Accessing%20Special%20Education%20Services%20for%20Your%20Child

1
Accessing Special Education Services for Your
Child

• Terry W. Fletcher
• Georgia Department of Education
• Division for Exceptional Students

2
Student Support Team (SST)

• A regular education, problem-solving process in
  every Georgia school
• To provide support to both students and teachers
  with the outcome being improved student
  performance
• Marshall vs. Georgia (Georgia Board Rule
  160-4-2-.32)

3
Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973

• Any student who is regarded as having an
  impairment or has a record of an impairment which
  substantially limits one or more major life
  activities
• Reasonable accommodations modifications/adjustmen
  ts of educational programs to afford students
  with disabilities equal opportunity to access the
  programs

4
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA, 1997)

• Free appropriate education
• Appropriate evaluation
• Individualized education program
• Least restrictive environment
• Parent and student participation in decision
  making
• Procedural due process

5
Free Appropriate Education (FAPE)

• Free at no cost to parents
• Appropriate suited to the individual needs of
  the child
• Public provided by, or paid for by, the public
  school system
• Education what this law is all about

6
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

• To the maximum extent appropriate children with
  disabilities are educated with children who are
  nondisabled
• Special classes, separate schooling or other
  removal of children with disabilities from the
  regular educational environment occurs only when
  the nature or severity of the disability is such
  that education in regular classes with the use of
  supplementary aids and services cannot be
  achieved satisfactorily.

7
Determining LRE

• If the student can be educated satisfactorily in
  the general education classroom, with aids and
  services, then thats the students LRE
• If not, consider alternative placements
• - instruction in regular classes
• - special classes
• - special schools
• - home instruction
• - instruction in hospitals and
• institutions

8
Plans

• 504 Plans
• SST Plans
• IEP

9
The SST Process

• Gathering Information
• Assessment and Evaluation of Data
• Development of Educational Plan
• Implementation of Educational Plan
• Evaluation of Progress
• Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation

10
The Special Education Process

• Referral
• Evaluation
• Identification
• Eligibility
• Placement
• Reevaluation

11
Service Delivery Models

• Team/collaborative Model
• Consultative Model
• Departmental Model
• Related Vocational Instruction (RVI)
• Support Services

12
Service Delivery Programs

• Resource Program
• Self-Contained Program

13
Service Delivery Location

• Community-Based Program
• Home-Based Program
• Hospital/Homebound Instruction
• Local School Facility
• Psychoeducational Program
• Residential Program
• Special Day-School Program
• State-Operated Schools

14
Parent Participation

• Evaluation
• Eligibility
• Reevaluation
• Meetings
• Records
• Student Progress