Preston County Board of Education
Policy 3-10-2 - Special Education, Identification/Referral

Preston County Schools shall conduct child find activities to ensure that all students with disabilities, ages 0-21, gifted students from first through eighth grades and exceptional gifted in grades 9 -12, are identified and referred for appropriate evaluation.

2.1.1 Public Awareness

a. Preston County Schools shall conduct an on-going awareness campaign that informs the agencies, organizations, and other individuals of the nature of exceptional students, the availability of special education and related services, and the persons to contact for initiating a referral.

The County Administrator of Special Education (CASE) or designee shall conduct an awareness campaign at least annually that includes but is not limited to media releases, dissemination of printed material, parent training, communication with other agencies/organizations, and staff development for all county personnel.

Documentation
Distribution list, agendas, attendance roster, copies of materials, media release

2.1.2 Referrals

a. Preston County Schools shall establish a child identification system which includes referrals from at least the following sources: the screening process; school teams; private/religious school(s); and any other interested person or agency.

A. the screening process;
• The CASE or designee shall conduct sweep screening:
  -- at least annually for all students entering kindergarten or preschool in the areas of hearing, vision, speech and language; and
  -- within 60 days of enrollment for all students entering West Virginia public and private schools for the first time in the areas of hearing, vision, speech and language.

  Documentation
  Health Cards.

• The CASE or designee shall conduct developmental screening for children under compulsory school attendance age within 30 days after receipt of request from a parent or guardian residing within the district. The district is not required to provide such screening to the same child more than once in any one school year.

  Documentation
  Documentation of request, health cards, screening logs

• The CASE or designee shall conduct developmental screening activities at least annually with other agencies to locate children with disabilities 0-5 years of age.

  Documentation
  Interagency agreement, health cards, screening logs

• The CASE or designee shall refer for multidisciplinary evaluation in accordance with Section 3.1 of these procedures those students identified through the screening process.

• The CASE or Designee shall provide prior public notice of screening programs to be conducted by releasing information through local media sources at least 10 days prior to initiation of screening which includes the purpose, types and dates of screenings and the means for parents to request their child not participate.

  Documentation Media release, pamphlets, brochures, written notice

B. school teams;

The Onsite Administrator or designee shall, within 10 school days of receipt of written SAT referral, convene a school team to initiate the identification and referral process in accordance with the Student Assistance Team (SAT) process described in Section 2.1.3 of these procedures.

C. private/religious schools;

The CASE or Designee shall receive and process written referrals from private/religious schools in Preston County within 10 school days of receipt of referral in Preston County School's special education office.

Documentation
Written Referral

D. any interested person or agency.

The CASE or Designee shall receive and process written referrals from any interested person or agency in accordance with the SAT process described in Section 2.1.3 of these procedures.

2.1.3 School Teams.

a. Preston County Schools shall establish a team in each school to assist in the identification/referral of students whose educational performance is not commensurate with non-exceptional peers, students suspected of having an exceptionality even though they are advancing from grade to grade, students in private/religious schools, and/or highly mobile students.

• The SAT Chairperson shall receive written referrals from teachers, agencies, parents and/or other interested persons for those students who are experiencing difficulties in the educational program. The Student Assistance Team (SAT) referral shall be signed, dated and must state the reason for referral.

  Documentation
  Written Referral

• The SAT Chairperson shall select and notify appropriate staff and parents of the date, time, and location of the meeting and the specific information needed for the meeting within 10 school days of receipt of written SAT referral.

  . Documentation
  SAT notice, written referral

• The SAT Chairperson shall, within 20 school days of receipt of written referral, conduct an SAT meeting(s) to review the area(s) of concern, collect and analyze available educational data, review previous interventions, recommend instructional strategies and/or behavioral interventions, recommend further data collection, close case or refer for multidisciplinary evaluation in accordance with Section 3.1 of these procedures.

  Documentation
  SAT Log, referral for multidisciplinary evaluation, behavior intervention plan

• The SAT Chairperson shall record SAT recommendations and actions.

  Documentation
  SAT Log/Form

• Designated staff shall implement SAT recommendations within 15 school days.

  Documentation
  Data Collection

• The SAT Chairperson shall review the effectiveness of the SAT recommendations within the timeline established for each child by the SAT, but no later than one grading period after implementation of such recommendations.

  Documentation
  SAT Log/Form

  The SAT Chairperson shall

  -- continue interventions if determined to be successful and close the case; or

  -- Refer for multidisciplinary evaluation as determined necessary by the SAT and, within 5 days of the meeting forward referral to central office; or

  -- Continue additional interventions and reconvene SAT within a timeline established for the child by the SAT.

• The SAT Chairperson shall provide written notice to the parents of the results of the SAT meeting within 10 days of the meeting.

  Documentation
  SAT Minutes, notice of evaluation/re-evaluation

• The SAT Chairperson shall obtain parental consent for evaluation in accordance with Section 8.1.4 of these procedures.

  Documentation
  Written notice, SAT Log/Form

The SAT Chairperson shall establish membership of the SAT to include an administrator or designee who shall serve as chairperson, current teacher(s) and other appropriate staff.

Documentation
SAT Log/Form

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