IN Woodland Hills Winter 2017 | Page 32

WOODLAND HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC NOTICE SPECIAL EDUCATION Woodland Hills School District provides a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE) to exceptional students consistent with the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 (P.L. 108-446) and Reauthorization 2006. To qualify as an exceptional student, the child must be of school-age, in need of specially designed instruction, and meet eligibility criteria for one or more of the following physical or mental disabilities: Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Deafness, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment including Deafness, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment including Blindness, and in the case of a child that is of pre-school age, Developmental Delay. Identification procedures ensure that eligible students receive an appropriate program consisting of individualized special education and related services. At no cost to parents, these services are provided in compliance with local, state and federal laws and planned to ensure meaningful educational benefit and student progress. To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an ongoing basis. These screening activities may include: hearing, vision, physical and speech/language screening; a review of group-based data (cumulative academic records, ability and achievement test scores, enrollment records, report cards, and health records); and a review by the building-level team. When screening results suggest that a student may need special education services, Woodland Hills School District will, with written parent consent, conduct an evaluation. Parents who suspect their child may need special education services may also submit a written request for an evaluation to the school principal in any of our school buildings. Services designed to meet the needs of exceptional students include: a timely evaluation and the annual development of an individualized Education Program (IEP). Parents are considered to be an integral and equal partner in the IEP process. We strongly recommend that you should be present at IEP meetings. Woodland Hills School District will make every effort to ensure parent participation and satisfaction. The extent of special education services and the location for the delivery of those services are determined by the IEP team and based on several factors, primarily upon the student’s identified needs and abilities. Consideration is also given to the student’s chronological age and level of intensity of the specified intervention. The district provides supplementary aids and services, such as transportation, physical therapy and occupational therapy, as necessary for the student to benefit from the special education program. Parents may obtain additional information about special education services and programs and parental due process rights by contacting the child’s school principal or the Special Education Office at 412-731-1300 ext. 0147. 30 Woodland Hills