Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services and Programs, Services for Gifted Students, and Services for Protected Handicapped Students
(Revised July, 2011)
Notice to Parents
According to state and federal special education regulations, annual public notice to parents of children who reside within a school district is required regarding child find responsibilities. School districts (SDs), intermediate units (IUs) and charter schools (CSs) are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for services via Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For additional information related to Section 504/Chapter 15 services, the parent may refer to Section 504, Chapter 15, and the Basic Education Circular entitled Implementation of Chapter 15. Also, school districts are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for gifted services via 22 Pa Code Chapter 16. For additional information regarding gifted services, the parent may refer to 22 PA Code Chapter 16. If a student is both gifted and eligible for Special Education, the procedures in IDEA and Chapter 14 shall take precedence.
This notice shall inform parents throughout the school district, intermediate unit, and charter school of the child identification activities and of the procedures followed to ensure confidentiality of information pertaining to students with disabilities or eligible young children. In addition to this public notice, each school district, intermediate unit, and charter school shall publish written information in the handbook and on the web site. Children ages three through twenty one can be eligible for special education programs and services. If parents believe that the child may be eligible for special education, the parent should contact the appropriate staff member identified at the end of this public notice.
Children age three through the age of admission to first grade are also eligible if they have developmental delays and, as a result, need Special Education and related services. Developmental delay is defined as a child who is less than the age of beginners and at least 3 years of age and is considered to have a developmental delay when one of the following exists: (i) The child’s score, on a developmental assessment device, on an assessment instrument which yields a score in months, indicates that the child is delayed by 25% of the child’s chronological age in one or more developmental areas. (ii) The child is delayed in one or more of the developmental areas, as documented by test performance of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean on standardized tests. Developmental areas include cognitive, communicative, physical, social/emotional and self-help. For additional information you may contact Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, Early Intervention Services, 1605 West Main Street, Norristown, PA 19403. The telephone number for the Early Intervention Program is (610) 755-9400.
Evaluation Process
Each school district, intermediate unit, and charter school has a procedure in place by which parents can request an evaluation. For information about procedures applicable to your child, contact the school, which your child attends. Telephone numbers and addresses can be found at the end of this notice. Parents of preschool age children, age three through five, may request an evaluation in writing by addressing a letter to the intermediate unit staff at Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, Early Intervention Services, 1605 West Main Street, Norristown, PA 19403. The telephone number for the Early Intervention Program is (610) 755-9400.
Consent
School entities cannot proceed with an evaluation, or with the initial provision of special education and related services, without the written consent of the parents. For additional information related to consent, please refer the Procedural Safeguards Notice which can be found at the PaTTAN website, www.Pattan.net. Once written parental consent is obtained, the district will proceed with the evaluation process. If the parent disagrees with the evaluation, the parent can request an independent education evaluation at public expense.
Program Development
Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified professional and parents determine whether the child is eligible. If the child is eligible, the individualized education program team meets, develops the program, and determines the educational placement. Once the IEP team develops the program and determines the educational placement, school district staff, intermediate unit staff, or charter school staff will issue a notice of recommended educational placement/prior written notice. Your written consent is required before initial services can be provided. The parent has the right to revoke consent after initial placement.
Confidentiality of Information:
The SDs, IUs and CSs maintain records concerning all children enrolled in the school, including students with disabilities. All records are maintained in the strictest confidentiality. Your consent, or consent of an eligible child who has reached the age of majority under State law, must be obtained before personally identifiable information is released, except as permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The age of majority in Pennsylvania is 21. Each participating agency must protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction stages. One official at each participating agency must assume responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable information. Each participating agency must maintain, for public inspection, a current listing of the names and positions of those employees within the agency who have access to personally identifiable information.
For additional information related to student records, the parent can refer to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
This notice is only a summary of the Special Education services, evaluation and screening activities, and rights and protections pertaining to children with disabilities, children thought to be disabled, and their parents. For more information or to request evaluation or screening of a public or private school child contact the responsible school entity listed below. For preschool age children, information, screenings and evaluations requested, may be obtained by contacting the Intermediate Unit. The addresses of these schools are as follows:
INTERMEDIATE UNIT
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
Early Intervention Services
1605 West Main Street
Norristown, PA 19403
(610) 755-9400
Achievement House Charter School
1021 W. Lancaster Avenue, Suite 207
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 527-0143
Agora Cyber Charter School
Ms. Sharon Williams, Head of School
60 Chestnut Avenue
Devon, PA 19333
(866) 548-9452
Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School
Joe Bradley, Director of Special Education
One West Main Street, Ste. 400
Norristown, PA 19401
(610) 275-8500
Souderton Charter School Collaborative
Ms. Jennifer Arevalo, Director of Special Education
110 East Broad Street
Souderton, PA 18964-1209
(215) 721-4560
Abington School District
Dr. Richard Balukas
Director of Special Education
970 Highland Ave.
Abington, PA 19001
(215) 884-4700
Bryn Athyn School District
District Administrator
P.O. Box 121
Bryn Athyn, PA 19009
(215) 947-0531
Cheltenham School District
Ms. Doris Galante
Director of Education
1000 Ashbourne Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027
(215) 886-9500
Colonial School District
Ms. Karen B. Berk
Director of Pupil Services
230 Flourtown Avenue
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
(610) 834-1670
Hatboro-Horsham School District
Ms. Kimberly Myers
Director of Special Education
220 Meetinghouse Road
Horsham, PA 19044
(215) 672-5660
Jenkintown School District
Ms. Michele Glennon
Director of Special Education
West & Highland Avenues
Jenkintown, PA 19046
(215) 885-3722
Lower Merion School District
Dr. Barbara Shapiro
Director of Student Services
301 E. Montgomery Avenue
Ardmore, PA 19003
(610) 645-1800
Lower Moreland School District
Mr. Frank Giordano
Director of Special Education
2551 Murray Avenue
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006
(215) 938-0272
Methacton School District
Dr. Todd Fay
Director of Pupil Services
1001 Kriebel Mill Road
Norristown, PA 19403
(610) 489-5000
Norristown School District
401 N. Whitehall Road
Norristown, PA 19403
(610) 630-5000
North Penn School District
Mrs. Tina Giambattista
Director of Special Education
401 E. Hancock Street
Lansdale, PA 19446
(215) 368-0400
Perkiomen Valley School District
Mr. Mark McIntyre
Director of Special Education
3 Iron Bridge Drive
Collegeville, PA 19426
(610) 489-8506
Pottsgrove School District
Ms. Ann Myers
Director of Pupil Services
1301 Kauffman Road
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 327-2277
Pottstown School District
Ms. Pam Bateson
Director of Special Education
940 Franklin Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
(610) 323-8200
Souderton School District
Mr. Frank Gallagher
Assist. Superintendent/
Director of Pupil Serv.
760 Lower Road
Souderton, PA 18964
(215) 723-6061 x.206
Springfield School District
Dr. Sylvia Sanfilippo-Cohn
Director of Pupil Services
1901 East Paper Mill Road
Oreland, PA 19075
(215) 233-6000
Spring-Ford School District
Ms. Carol Frankel
Supervisor of Special Education
857 S. Lewis Road
Royersford, PA 19428
(610) 705-6000
Upper Dublin School District
Mr. Neil Evans
Director of Special Education
1580 Fort Washington Ave.
Maple Glen, PA 19002
(215) 643-8800
Upper Merion School District
Ms. Kathryn Ashbridge
Assist. Superintendent for Student Serv.
435 Crossfield Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
(610) 205-6400
Upper Moreland School District
Ms. Melanie Munden
Director of Spec. Ed. & Support.Serv.
2900 Terwood Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
(215) 659-6800
Upper Perkiomen School District
Ms. Suzanne Miller
Director of Special Education
2229 E. Buck Road
Pennsburg, PA 18073
(215) 679-7961
Wissahickon School District
Mrs. Kelle Heim-McCloskey
Director of Student Services
601 Knight Road
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 619-8000
PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION INSTITUTIONS
Carson Valley School
Dr. Marie P O'Donnell
Administrator
1419 Bethlehem Pike
Flourtown, PA 19031
(215) 233-1945 Ext. 236
De La Salle In Towne Philadelphia
Sr. Margaret Donahoe
Director of Education
25 S. Pelt Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 567-5500
De La Salle Vocational School
Sr. Margaret Donahoe
Director of Education
1265 Street Road
Bensalem, PA 19020
(215) 665-8777
Holy Family Institute
Ms. Gina Knowles
Education Director
PO Box 388
Fort Washington, PA 19002
(215) 643-7676
New Life Youth & Family Services
Mr. Bill Parker
Director of Education
585 Freeman School Rd
Schwenksville, PA 19473
(610) 287-7884 Ext: 1127
Saint Gabriel's Hall
Mr. Dan Rhoton
Vice Principal
Box 7280
Audubon, PA 19407
(610) 666-7970 Ext. 224
The school entity or charter school will not discriminate in employment, educational programs, or activities based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap, creed, marital status or because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. No preschool, elementary or secondary school pupil enrolled in a school district, Intermediate Unit, or charter school program shall be denied equal opportunity to participate in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, color, handicap, creed, national origin, marital status or financial hardship.