LEGAL
NOTICES FROM
THE SCHOOL
CHARTIERS
VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT | 2016-2017
LEGAL NOTICES FROM
TH ECHARTIERS
VALLEY
DISTRICT
CHARTIERS VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT
CHILD FIND AND
ANNUAL NOTICE TO PARENTS
(CFR 300.125)
SERVICES FOR PROTECTED HANDICAPPED
STUDENTS
In compliance with state and federal law, the
Chartiers Valley School District will provide to
each protected handicapped student without
discrimination or cost to the student or family,
those related aids, services or accommodations
which are needed to provide equal opportunity
to participate in and obtain the benefits of the
school program and extracurricular activities to
the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s
abilities. In order to qualify as a protected
handicapped student the child must be of school
age with a physical or mental disability, which
substantially limits or prohibits participation in
or access to an aspect of the school program.
These services and protections for “protected
handicapped students” are distinct from those
applicable to all eligible or exceptional students
enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special
education programs.
For further information on the evaluation
procedures and provision of services to
protected handicapped students or eligible
students, contact Dr. Amy Wodnicki, Director of
Student Services at 412.429.2638 throughout
the school year.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
AND PROGRAMS
Child Find
Chartiers Valley School District
Dr. Amy Wodnicki
2030 Swallow Hill Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
412.429.2638 Phone 412.429.2286 Fax
Each school district, along with other public
agencies in the Commonwealth, must establish
and implement procedures to identify, locate
and evaluate all children who need special
education programs and services because
of the child’s disability. This notice is to help
find these children, offer assistance to parents
and describe the parent’s rights with regard
to confidentiality of information that will be
obtained during the process. Each school
district shall also conduct awareness activities
to inform the public of gifted education services
and programs and the manner by which to
request these services and programs.
The content of this notice has been written in
English. If a person does not understand any of
this notice, he or she should contact the school
district and request an explanation.
IDENTIFICATION ACTIVITY
Child Find refers to activities undertaken by
public education agencies to identify, locate,
and evaluate children residing in the State,
including children attending private schools,
who are suspected of having disabilities,
regardless of the severity of their disability, and
determine the child’s need for special education
and related services. The purpose is to locate
these children so that a free appropriate public
education (FAPE) can be made available. The
types of disabilities, that if found to cause
a child to need services are: Autism, deaf-
blindness, deafness, emotional disturbance,
hearing impairment, mental retardation, multiple
disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health
impairment due to chronic or acute health
problems, specific learning disabilities (speech
or language), traumatic brain injury and visual
impairment including blindness, in the case of
a child that is of preschool age developmental
delay. Screening activities are also conducted
to determine student need for gifted support
services.
The Chartiers Valley School District provides
educational services for all eligible students
either through district- operated classes,
contracts with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit
#3, Private Academic Schools, or Approved
Private Schools. Classes providing Learning
Support, Life-Skills Support, Emotional Support,
Physical Support, Multiple Disabilities Support,
and Autistic Support are available for students
at beginning school age through age 21, if
necessary. Additional services include hearing,
vision, and speech and language support.
Students found to meet eligibility criteria as
“mentally gifted” may receive services through
district’s Gifted Education Programs.
Each school district is required to annually
provide notice describing the identification
activities and the procedures followed to
ensure confidentiality of personally identifiable
information. This notice is intended to meet this
requirement.
Identification activities are performed to find
a child who is suspected as having a disability
that would interfere with his or her learning
unless special education programs and services
are made available. Children suspected of being
“mentally gifted” who need specially designed
instruction not ordinarily provided in the regular
education program also go through screening
activities. The activities include: Review of group
data, conduct hearing and vision screening,
assessment of student’s academic functioning,
observation of the student displaying difficulty
in behavior and determining the student’s
response to attempted remediation. Input
from parents is also an information source for
identification. After a child is identified as a
suspected child with a disability, he or she is
evaluated, but is not evaluated before parents
give permission for their child to be evaluated.
The school district will follow procedures
outlined in the special education regulations
(Chapter 14) for determining eligibility and
need for special education services. Chapter
16 regulations will be followed to determine
eligibility and need for Gifted Education services.
CONFIDENTIALITY
(CFR 300.127)
If after screening, a disability is suspected,
upon your permission, your child will be
evaluated. Written records of the results are
called an education record, which are d