MSAD 5's Special Education Screening

M.S.A.D. #5's Special Education Screening Information

Special Education, working under the federal law Individuals with Disabilities Act (I.D.E.A.)is designed to ensure that appropriate public education is provided to all school age students identified as having an exceptionality that interferes with their ability to learn in the regular education programs. All children go through the screening process within 30 days of entering school. The screening takes place during your child's school day. The screening helps the school identify those students who may have an exceptionality. The screening process is used to obtain data on each student through direct assessment in the areas of: Gross and fine motor skills Receptive and expressive language skills Vision Hearing Cognitive skills The screening is not conclusive evidence of an exceptionality. The results of the screening provide the school with indicators of the possibility of an exceptionality. All students identified will be referred to the Pupil Evaluation Team. Parents will be notified if a referral is made. If you have any questions regarding the screening speak with the special education teacher in your child's building or call the Director of Special Education at 596-2003.

MAINE SPECIAL EDUCATION REGULATIONS 7.                 Screening:         Referrals 7.1               General Principles: Screening Responsibilities Each school unit has the responsibility of identifying all children within its jurisdiction who may be students with disabilities. This shall be accomplished through a unit-wide screening process which, while not a definitive or final judgment of a student's capabilities or disability, is a possible indicator of special education needs. Final identification of students with disabilities and programming for such students occurs only after an appropriate evaluation and determination by the Pupil Evaluation Team. 7.2              Responsibility for Screening Each administrative unit shall ensure that all resident and other eligible students are screened or offered the opportunity for screening. All students enrolled in the public schools of the unit or educated at public expense of the unit shall be screened. A unit which tuitions out (on a tuition or contract basis) some of all of its students is responsible for screening either through appropriate arrangements with the receiving unit or school or through direct screening services by unit personnel or contracted personnel. Students who attend or will attend private schools at private expense shall be offered the opportunity for screening at public expense. 7.3              Students to be Screened Each school unit shall screen all students entering public school for the first time during the first 30 days of the school year or during the first 30 days of enrollment for transfer students. This duty shall include all entering kindergarten students and transfer students of all ages and grade levels. If evidence of prior screening and a statement of the results can be found in the student's cumulative record, or the unit has reason to believe that the student has previously been identified as a student with a disability, screening may be waived. NOTE:          A unit may schedule screening in the spring prior to kindergarten enrollment to assist in planning for necessary special education and supportive services at the start of the school year. 7.4               Elements of Screening The screening process in each school unit shall include obtaining data on each student, through direct assessment or by indirect means of the student's gross and fine motor skills, receptive and expressive language skills, vision, hearing and cognitive skills. If appropriate, other areas of screening may include: self-help, self-concept, social-emotional development and personal histories. 7.5               Responsible Staff Staff assigned by an administrative unit to screening activities may include a variety of school personnel including classroom teachers, school nurse, and educational specialists. 7.6               Referral after Screening; Notice of Referral If the screening process indicates that a student may require special education and supportive services in order to benefit from regular education, the student shall be referred to the Pupil Evaluation Team to determine the student's eligibility for special education services.