Blue Mountain School District Blue Mountain Community Information Series SERVICES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS Blue Mountain Middle School Auditorium October 4, :00 PM

Department of Special Education Blue Mountain School District Mr. Frank Musitano Director of Special Education Mr. Kenneth Rossi Assistant Principal Blue Mountain High School Supervisor of Special Education

Special Guest Mrs. Debra Arnold Director of Special Education Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit #29

Guiding Questions What specialized services are available for students of Blue Mountain School District? What specialized services are available for students of Blue Mountain School District? How are students referred for these specialized services? How are students referred for these specialized services? How is eligibility determined for these specialized services? How is eligibility determined for these specialized services?

Content District and Contracted Employees District and Contracted Employees Specialized Services for Students – District Specialized Services for Students – District Specialized Services for Students – Contracted Specialized Services for Students – Contracted Referral Process and Eligibility Determination Referral Process and Eligibility Determination Staff Development and Parent Training Initiatives Staff Development and Parent Training Initiatives Additional Sources of Revenue Additional Sources of Revenue Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit #29 Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit #29 Ask the Panel Ask the Panel

District/Contracted Employees Special Education Teachers =37 Gifted Teacher/Coordinators=3 Teacher Aides=32 Speech Clinicians=4 Certified School Psychologists=3 (one 240 day, two 188 day) Occupational Therapists=1.6 Physical Therapists=Contracted Social Workers=2 Supervisor of Special Education=.5 Director of Special Education=1 Special Education Secretary=1 Part-time Clerical Aide (BMHS)=.5 ACCESS Part-Time Secretary=.5

Specialized Services for Students District Programs Supplemental and Itinerant Learning Support Programs Supplemental and Itinerant Learning Support Programs Itinerant Emotional Support Itinerant Emotional Support Full-time and Supplemental Life Skills Support Full-time and Supplemental Life Skills Support Itinerant, Supplemental, and Full-time Autistic Support Itinerant, Supplemental, and Full-time Autistic Support Gifted Education Gifted Education Itinerant Speech and Language Support Itinerant Speech and Language Support Psychological Counseling Provided by Social Worker Psychological Counseling Provided by Social Worker Occupational Therapy Occupational Therapy Psychological Services Psychological Services

Specialized Services for Students Contracted Programs Physical Therapy Physical Therapy Behavior Intervention Services Behavior Intervention Services SCIU Services – Mrs. Arnold will Address Later SCIU Services – Mrs. Arnold will Address Later Community Based Work Assessments Community Based Work Assessments Nursing Services and Support Nursing Services and Support Specialized Transportation Specialized Transportation Interpreter Services Interpreter Services Physician Services Physician Services Psychiatric Services Psychiatric Services Psychological Services Psychological Services

IEP Referral Process

Special Education Evaluation Process

Qualifying for Special Education Two-Pronged Test Prong 1: Does the child have a disability? Prong 1: Does the child have a disability? Prong 2:Does the child require specially- designed instruction? Prong 2:Does the child require specially- designed instruction?

What is Prong 1? Prong 1 answers the question of: Does the child have a disability? Prong 1 answers the question of: Does the child have a disability? For meeting this prong of eligibility, the team must consider information and have data to support at least 1 indicator from each of the areas listed for that particular eligibility category. For meeting this prong of eligibility, the team must consider information and have data to support at least 1 indicator from each of the areas listed for that particular eligibility category. There are 13 different eligibility categories There are 13 different eligibility categories

13 Disability Categories 1. Autism 2. Deaf-Blindness 3. Deafness 4. Emotional Disability 5. Hearing Impairment 6. Intellectual Disability 7. Multiple Disabilities 8. Orthopedic Impairment 9. Other Health Impaired 10. Specific Learning Disability 11. Speech/Language Impairment 12. Traumatic Brain Injury 13. Visual Impairment (including blindness)

Example Prong 1 (Emotional Disturbance) Prong 1: Does the child exhibit a disability? For meeting this prong of eligibility the team must consider For meeting this prong of eligibility the team must consider information and have data to support at least 1 indicator from each of the four following areas: information and have data to support at least 1 indicator from each of the four following areas: Characteristics of Emotional Disturbance Characteristics of Emotional Disturbance 1. Evidence that characteristics have been exhibited over a long period of time. 2. Evidence that characteristics are exhibited to a marked degree. 2. Evidence that characteristics are exhibited to a marked degree. 3. Evidence that behavior adversely affects educational performance. Other Supporting Information: Medical information and records. Other Supporting Information: Medical information and records.

Example Prong 1 (Learning Disability) Prong 1: Does the student exhibit a disability? For meeting this prong of eligibility, the team must consider information and have data to support at least 1 indicator for each of the three following areas: For meeting this prong of eligibility, the team must consider information and have data to support at least 1 indicator for each of the three following areas: 1. Observational Data 1. Observational Data 2. The child does not achieve adequately for the child's age or meet state approved grade level standards. 3. Evidence of provision of learning experiences and instruction appropriate for the child's age and grade level. Other Supporting Data: Medical records or other diagnosis of perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, or developmental aphasia. Other Supporting Data: Medical records or other diagnosis of perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, or developmental aphasia.

What is Prong 2 Prong two answers the question: Does the child require specially designed instruction (special education services)? Does the child require specially designed instruction (special education services)? Data indicates need for sustained and/or prolonged services. Data indicates need for sustained and/or prolonged services. Data indicates that even with modifications the child is not making adequate progress to meet state approved grade level standards in one or more areas. Data indicates that even with modifications the child is not making adequate progress to meet state approved grade level standards in one or more areas. Data indicates a need for specially designed instruction. Data indicates a need for specially designed instruction. Data indicates rate of learning is significantly different from peers. Data indicates rate of learning is significantly different from peers.

Exclusionary Factors A child must NOT be determined to be a child with an exceptionality if the determinant factor is: A child must NOT be determined to be a child with an exceptionality if the determinant factor is: Lack of appropriate instruction in reading including the essential components of reading instruction Lack of appropriate instruction in reading including the essential components of reading instruction Lack of appropriate instruction in math; Lack of appropriate instruction in math; Limited English proficiency Limited English proficiency

Team Decision If the team concludes the student meet the criteria for prong 1, prong 2, and the exclusionary factors have been ruled out then the child is deemed eligible and an IEP is written. If the team concludes the student meet the criteria for prong 1, prong 2, and the exclusionary factors have been ruled out then the child is deemed eligible and an IEP is written.

Staff Development and Parent Training Initiatives Learning Focused Schools ; , Learning Focused Schools ; , Wilson Reading Initiative ; Wilson Reading Initiative ; IEP and Evaluation Processes (on-going) IEP and Evaluation Processes (on-going) Chapter 16 and Forms ( ; ; ) Chapter 16 and Forms ( ; ; ) Standards Based IEP Training (August, 2009) Standards Based IEP Training (August, 2009) Transition Services Expansion to BMMS – Transition Services Expansion to BMMS – Paraprofessional Staff Development (20 hours per year) Paraprofessional Staff Development (20 hours per year) Parent Training to Include Training with Staff Parent Training to Include Training with Staff SAS Trainings ( , , ) SAS Trainings ( , , ) Classroom Diagnostic Test – CDT ( ; ) Classroom Diagnostic Test – CDT ( ; ) Community Information Series – 3 Events Planned ( ) Community Information Series – 3 Events Planned ( )

Additional Sources of Revenue ARRA IDEA Stimulus Funding : $271, ARRA IDEA Stimulus Funding : $271, ARRA IDEA Stimulus Funding : $271, ARRA IDEA Stimulus Funding : $271, Out-of-District Tuition Students Out-of-District Tuition Students ACCESS Time Study ACCESS Time Study PDE Autism Performance Grant : $79, PDE Autism Performance Grant : $79, PDE Autism Performance Grant : $42, PDE Autism Performance Grant : $42, Inclusive Practices (PDE) The Brain and Learning: $10, Inclusive Practices (PDE) The Brain and Learning: $10, District-wide Implementation of Progress Monitoring $33, District-wide Implementation of Progress Monitoring $33, Medical ACCESS Revenue Medical ACCESS Revenue IDEA Funding IDEA Funding Contingency Funding PDE Contingency Funding PDE

Guest Presentation Mrs. Debra Arnold Director of Special Education Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit #29 17 Maple Avenue MarLin, PA Website:

BLUE MOUNTAINSHENANDOAH MINERSVILLE SCHUYLKILL HAVEN MAHANOY SAINT CLAIR NORTH SCHUYLKILLTRI-VALLEY PINE GROVE TAMAQUA POTTSVILLEWILLIAMS VALLEY

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit Works in collaboration with the area School Districts

The School District as the Local Education Agency would request services and or programs on behalf of their students and parents

Early Intervention Program Servicing students 3-5 years old

MAPLE AVENUE CAMPUS CLASSROOMS Emotional Support Life Skills Support Autistic Support Multiple Disabilities Support Physical Support Programs SCHUYLKILL LEARNING ACADEMY Partial Hospitalization Program Alternative Education Program Day Treatment Program District Located Classroom Hearing Impaired Classroom

Speech Therapists Licensed Occupational Therapists Occupational Therapy Assistants Licensed Physical Therapists Instructor of the Visually Impaired Instructor of the Hearing Impaired Orientation and Mobility Instructor Additional Service ProvidersADDITIONAL Services Transportation ESL Services Psychological Services Psychiatric Services Work Mentor transition services Local provider of staff in-servicing Inter-agency Coordination

TaC Training and Consultation Assistive Technology Autism Behavior Early Intervention Inclusion Instructional Support Reading Transition Traumatic Brain Injury

Services Available to Parents Calendar of Events for Trainings Visit Participating in Local Task Force BrainSTEPS Training for Volunteers (Surrogate Parent)

For additional information please contact your school Districts Special Education Office Debra Arnold Director of Special Education Phone: Ext Fax: