It is the policy of the Allegheny Valley School District that every child shall be provided with the opportunity for a free, appropriate, and public education. Based on Gaskins vs. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is required that school districts increase their capacity to educate students with disabilities in regular education classrooms with appropriate supports. Therefore, students with disabilities in the Allegheny Valley School District are educated with students who do not have disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. The Allegheny Valley School District is committed to providing all necessary supplemental aids and services available to all exceptional students who need them before considering a more restrictive placement. In addition, these services are designed to provide meaningful educational benefits and are delivered in such a manner that avoids stigmatizing students.


ANNUAL PUBLIC NOTICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS, SERVICES FOR GIFTED STUDENTS, AND SERVICE FOR PROTECTED HANDICAPED STUDENTS
(Revised January 28, 2009)

Notice to Parents
According to state and federal special education regulations, annual public notice to parents of children who reside within a school district is required regarding child find responsibilities.  School District’s, intermediate units, and charter schools are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for services via Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  For additional information related to Section 504/Chapter 15 services, the parent may refer to Section 504, Chapter 15, and the Basic Education Circular entitled Implementation of Chapter 15.  Also, school districts are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for gifted services via 22 PA Code Chapter 16.  For additional information regarding gifted services, the parent may refer to 22 PA Code Chapter 16.  If a student is both gifted and eligible for Special Education, the procedures in IDEA and Chapter 14 shall take precedence.

This notice shall inform parents throughout the school district, intermediate unit, and charter school of the child identification activities and of the procedures followed to ensure confidentiality of information pertaining to students with disabilities or eligible young children.  In addition to this public notice, each school district, intermediate unit, and charter school shall publish written information in the handbook and on the web site.  Children ages three through twenty-one can be eligible for special education programs and services.  If parents believe that the child may be eligible for special education, the parent should contact Mr. Daniel Swoger at 724/274-7200.

Children age three through the age of admission to first grade are also eligible if they have developmental delays and, as a result, need Special Education and related services.  Developmental delay is defined as a child who is less than the age of beginners and at least three years of age and is considered to have a developmental delay when one of the following exists: (i) The child’s score, on a developmental assessment device, on an assessment instrument which yields a score in months, indicates that the child is delayed by 25% of the child’s chronological age in one or more developmental areas, or (ii) The child is delayed in one or more of the developmental areas, as documented by test performance of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean on standardized tests.  Developmental areas include cognitive, communicative, physical, social/emotional and self-help.  For additional information, please contact Mr. Daniel Swoger at 724/274-7200.

Evaluation Process
Each school district, intermediate unit, and charter school has a procedure in place by which parents can request an evaluation.  For information about procedures applicable to your child, contact the school that your child attends.  Parents of preschool age children, age three through five, may request an evaluation in writing by addressing a letter to the intermediate unit staff.

Consent
School entities cannot proceed with an evaluation or with the initial provision of special education and related services, without the written consent of the parents.  For additional information related to consent, please refer to the Procedural Safeguards Notice, which can be found at the PaTTAN web site at www.pattan.net.  Once written parental consent is obtained, the school district, intermediate unit or charter school will proceed with the evaluation process.  If the parent disagrees with the evaluation, the parent can request an independent education evaluation at public expense.

Program Development
Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified professionals and the parents determine whether the child is eligible.  If the child is eligible, the individualized education program (IEP) team meets, develops the program, and determines the educational placement.  Once the IEP team develops the program and determines the educational placement, school district staff, intermediate unit staff, or charter school staff will issue a notice of recommended educational placement/prior written notice.  Your written consent is required before initial services can be provided.  The parent has the right to revoke consent after initial placement.

Confidentiality of Information
The school districts, intermediate units, and charter schools maintain records concerning all children enrolled in the school, including students with disabilities.  All records are maintained in the strictest confidentiality.  Your consent, or consent of an eligible child who has reached the age of majority under State law, must be obtained before personally identifiable information is released, except as permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  The age of majority in Pennsylvania is 21.  Each participating agency must protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction stages.  One official at each participating agency must assume responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable information.  Each participating agency must maintain, for public inspection, a current listing of the names and positions of those employees within the agency who have access to personally identifiable information.

For additional information related to student records, the parent can refer to the FERPA at the following: htt://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html.

This notice is only a summary of the special education services, evaluation and screening activities, and rights and protections pertaining to children with disabilities, children thought to be disabled, and their parents.  For more information or to request evaluation or screening of a public or private school child, contact the responsible entity listed below.  For preschool age children information, screenings and evaluations requested, may be obtained by contacting the intermediate unit.

The school district, intermediate unit, or charter school will not discriminate in employment, educational programs, or activities based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap, creed, marital status or because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era.  No preschool, elementary or secondary school pupil enrolled in a school district, intermediate unit, or charter school program shall be denied equal opportunity to participate in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, color, handicap, creed, national origin, marital status, or financial hardship.


Gifted Support
The Allegheny Valley School District makes every effort to identify gifted students and to provide these pupils with free, appropriate, and public education. The District has developed a program for these intellectually gifted students, which is an essential part of the total education program.

The Gifted Education Program provides enrichment and acceleration options to the curriculum. In the elementary program, I.E.P. goals are reached by concentrating on development of gifted behaviors. The secondary program takes this development a step further concentrating on Advanced Placement classes, enrichment experiences, and acceleration in one or more academic disciplines. Both programs include many varied classes and activities to help students reach their full potential.

Evaluation for the Gifted Education Program is held year round at all three schools in the District. Parents must give prior written permission for an intelligence evaluation. It is important to note that parents have a right to be part of the evaluation process by providing any information that shall be considered in determining the student’s educational strengths. A written educational report is prepared summarizing the results of testing. All test results are held in strict confidence and will be shared with only parents and appropriate school personnel. For more information contact Ms. Susan Mellon, GATE Coordinator at 724-274-8100 or the child’s building principal


Public Notices

1. Notice of Discrimination of Grievance Procedure - The Allegheny Valley School District has established a comprehensive grievance procedure for complaints of sexual discrimination, sexual harassment, and discrimination on the basis of physical or mental handicap. The procedure is in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any Allegheny Valley student or employee, or any individual or group acting in behalf of a student or employee (male or female), may file a grievance of sexual discrimination or sexual harassment with the District's Title IX Coordinator or the District Superintendent. Any handicapped student or employee may file a grievance of discrimination on the basis of physical or mental handicap with the District's 504 coordinator Dr. Cheryl Griffith, 300 Pearl Avenue, Cheswick, PA 15024, 724-274-5300. Persons with complaints may obtain a copy of the grievance procedure and form from the district's coordinators by contacting the Title IX Coordinator.
   
   
2. Introduction to Early Intervention Services - Services for special needs children below school age, who reside in suburban Allegheny County, are provided through two different systems linked by a transition process. Birth through age two programming is provided through the PA Department of Welfare (DPW) funding and is coordinated by the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers, Inc. Children who are three years old to school entry age are provided services through the PA Department of Education (PDE) funding. This preschool program is presently coordinated by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit's Early Childhood and Family Support Services program, DART. The program options include possible placement in approved private schools, selected private provider agencies, Head Start, or DART's own programs. Services can be provided in homes, community preschools, daycares, and early intervention classrooms. Developmental screening and in-depth evaluation is provided throughout the year. These services can be accessed by calling the DART office. Once in the early intervention program, the child continues until either age-appropriate levels are achieved or the child reaches school entry age for his/her school district. At that point, the transition to school age process, coordinated with the district special education liaison, begins. For more information, please call:
   
   Infants/Toddlers -
   Alliance for Infants and Toddlers, Inc. 412-431-1905
   Preschoolers -
   Allegheny Intermediate Unit
   Early Childhood and Family Support Services/DART 412-394-5736
   
   
3. PDE Screening and Tracking Services - The Allegheny Valley School District invites any parent of a child residing in the district with possible disabilities, or who are in need of special education or related services, to contact the special education administrative assistant at 724-274-7200. Young children experiencing developmental delays or physical or mental disabilities and their families are eligible for early intervention services. At-risk children are eligible for screening and tracking. The Pennsylvania Department of Education provides services to preschool children from ages three through five. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Project DART, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120 412-394-5700.