Blue Mountain School District

Blue Mountain Community Information Series

SERVICES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

Blue Mountain Middle School Auditorium

October 4, 20127:00 PM

Department of Special Education

Blue Mountain School District

Mr. Frank Musitano Director of Special Education

Mr. Kenneth RossiAssistant Principal Blue Mountain High

SchoolSupervisor of Special Education

Special Guest

Mrs. Debra ArnoldDirector of Special

EducationSchuylkill County Intermediate

Unit #29

Guiding Questions

What specialized services are available for students of Blue Mountain School District?

How are students referred for these specialized services?

How is eligibility determined for these specialized services?

Content

District and Contracted Employees Specialized Services for Students –

District Specialized Services for Students –

Contracted Referral Process and Eligibility

Determination Staff Development and Parent Training

Initiatives Additional Sources of Revenue Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit #29 Ask the Panel

District/Contracted Employees

Special Education Teachers = 37Gifted Teacher/Coordinators = 3Teacher Aides = 32Speech Clinicians = 4Certified School Psychologists = 3 (one 240 day, two 188

day)Occupational Therapists = 1.6 Physical Therapists = ContractedSocial Workers = 2Supervisor of Special Education = .5Director of Special Education = 1Special Education Secretary = 1Part-time Clerical Aide (BMHS) = .5ACCESS Part-Time Secretary = .5

Specialized Services for Students

District Programs Supplemental and Itinerant Learning

Support Programs Itinerant Emotional Support Full-time and Supplemental Life Skills

Support Itinerant, Supplemental, and Full-time

Autistic Support Gifted Education Itinerant Speech and Language Support Psychological Counseling Provided by

Social Worker Occupational Therapy Psychological Services

Specialized Services for Students

Contracted Programs Physical Therapy Behavior Intervention Services SCIU Services – Mrs. Arnold will Address Later Community Based Work Assessments Nursing Services and Support Specialized Transportation Interpreter Services Physician Services Psychiatric 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 2:Does the child require specially- designed instruction?

What is Prong 1?

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.

There are 13 different eligibility categories

13 Disability Categories1. Autism2. Deaf-Blindness3. Deafness4. Emotional Disability5. Hearing Impairment6. Intellectual Disability7. Multiple Disabilities8. Orthopedic Impairment9. Other Health Impaired10. Specific Learning Disability11. Speech/Language Impairment12. Traumatic Brain Injury13. 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 information and have data to support at least 1 indicator from each of the four following areas:

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. 3. Evidence that behavior adversely affects educational performa

nce.

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:

1. Observational Data 2. The child does not achieve adequately for the child's ag

e 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.

What is Prong 2

Prong two answers the question:

Does the child require specially designed instruction (special education 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 a need for specially designed instruction.

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: Lack of appropriate instruction in readin

g including the essential components of reading instruction

Lack of appropriate instruction in math; 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.

Staff Development and Parent Training Initiatives

Learning Focused Schools 2009-2010; 2010-2011, 2011-2012

Wilson Reading Initiative 2011-2012; 2012-2013 IEP and Evaluation Processes (on-going) Chapter 16 and Forms (2010-2011; 2011-2012;

2012-2013) Standards Based IEP Training (August, 2009) Transition Services Expansion to BMMS – 2008-

2009 Paraprofessional Staff Development (20 hours

per year) Parent Training to Include Training with Staff SAS Trainings (2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-

2012) Classroom Diagnostic Test – CDT (2011-2012;

2012-2013) Community Information Series – 3 Events

Planned (2012-2013)

Additional Sources of Revenue

ARRA IDEA Stimulus Funding 2010-2011: $271,175.00

ARRA IDEA Stimulus Funding 2009-2010: $271,175.00

Out-of-District Tuition Students ACCESS Time Study PDE Autism Performance Grant 2007-2008:

$79,300.00 PDE Autism Performance Grant 2006-07:

$42,000.00 Inclusive Practices (PDE) “The Brain and

Learning”: $10,000.00 District-wide Implementation of Progress

Monitoring $33,000.00 Medical ACCESS Revenue IDEA Funding Contingency Funding PDE

Guest Presentation

Mrs. Debra ArnoldDirector of Special

Education

Schuylkill County Intermediate Unit #2917 Maple AvenueMarLin, PA 17951

570-544-9131Website: http://www.iu29.org

BLUE MOUNTAIN SHENANDOAH

MINERSVILLE SCHUYLKILL HAVEN

MAHANOY SAINT CLAIR

NORTH SCHUYLKILL TRI-VALLEY

PINE GROVE TAMAQUA

POTTSVILLE WILLIAMS VALLEY

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit Works in collaboration with the

area School Districts

How to work with us:

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 Providers ADDITIONAL 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 www.iu29.org

• Participating in Local Task Force• BrainSTEPS• Training for Volunteers (Surrogate Parent)

For additional information please contact your school District’s Special Education

OfficeDebra ArnoldDirector of Special Education

Phone: 570-544-9131 Ext. 1211Fax: 570-544-8236E-mail: arnod@iu29.org