East Allegheny School District

ANNUAL NOTICE

East Allegheny 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). 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, 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 preschool age, developmental delay.  Information regarding the appropriate developmental milestone descriptors for infants and toddlers may be found at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website at cdc.gov. For additional information regarding the signs of developmental delays or other disabilities, please contact the School Psychologist at 412.824.6053 x 3150. 

 Identification procedures ensure eligible students receive an appropriate program consisting of individualized special education and related services. At no cost to the parents, these services are provided in compliance with state and federal law 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, East Allegheny School District will, with parental 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. 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 an integral part of the IEP process and should be present at IEP meetings. East Allegheny School District will make every effort to ensure parent participation.  

The extent of special education services and the location for the delivery of those services are determined by the IEP team and based on student’s identified needs and abilities. Services designed to meet the needs of eligible students include the annual development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), bi-annual or tri-annual multidisciplinary re-evaluation, and a full continuum of services, which include Itinerant, Supplemental, or Full-Time Levels of Intervention. The district also 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 412-824-8012. 

**UPDATE 8.31.23

IDEA Part B Policies and Procedures

PENN*LINK

Parent Letter