Revised 5/2009

Everything Parents May Want To Know

About Special Education…

But Didn’t Know Who To Ask!

 

Often times, when students enroll in our school, they’ve received special education services or specialized considerations through a 504 Accommodations Plan in their previous public school. When this is the case, you indicated this on your child’s enrollment application. Before your student was accepted in our charter school or assigned a general education teacher (ES), you submitted a copy of their most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan with their application, and it was reviewed by our department.  Since both IEPs and 504 Plans are legally binding documents that must be immediately implemented when your student begins attending our school, we needed a copy in our possession so we could be made aware of the range of services that will be required. DO NOT finalize your student agreement (enrollment paperwork) for your child unless your general education teacher (ES) indicates to you that the IEP or 504 Plan has been received and reviewed by our staff. If you have questions or are in doubt, please call us first! Our phone number is 619-698-5437.

 

Because it is critical to have special education documents in our possession, if information provided on an application about a Special Education IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan is falsified, the student may be dis-enrolled. If parents wish to re-apply, they may do so after consultation with the school’s executive director and by providing the required documents with the new application.

 

Once your student with a Special Education IEP or 504 Accommodation Plan is enrolled, within 30 calendar days a meeting is convened to officially review the previous document(s), and rewrite them on mandated countywide forms used by our charter. Once special education services are initiated, identified students are expected to attend scheduled tutorials to assist him/her in meeting the identified goals on their Individual Educational Plan (IEP).  Two unexcused absences or missing more than 50% of a student’s special education services in a month will result in the student being marked truant.  Parents may request an IEP meeting to review their student’s educational progress to insure that the charter school remains the least restrictive environment in which to promote educational benefit if desired. A second truancy in the current academic year for non-attendance at special education tutorials will result in immediate dismissal from the charter school.

 

For students who are not currently receiving special education, but as a parent, you are concerned about your youngster’s academic, social, or emotional progress, our school utilizes a process called Personal Learning Team (PLT) to help parents identify resources and supports for students experiencing academic difficulty.  PLT meetings are coordinated by our Literacy Director, Terry Leppien, who can be reached at 

tleppien@connectingwaters.org

Office: 800-808-9895, Ext. 5, then Ext. 1

 

By serving our students and their families, we can help parents establish a positive home school environment. If any questions arise, please contact us at (619) 698-5437. We will be happy to assist you.  

 

 

 

Special Education Department