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 districts are required to conduct child find activities for children who may be eligible for services via Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA).

This notice shall inform parents throughout the school district 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 shall publish written information in the handbook and on the website. Children ages three through twenty-one who attend public or private schools; those who are home schooled; those who are homeless or are wards of the state 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 their district of residence.

Screening

A screening process for children ages 3 years through 5 years, which may lead to a more comprehensive assessment is provided at no charge to parents through Child Find at Laurens County School District 55 District office. Parents can obtain additional information about this process by contacting the Child Find Coordinator at 864-984-3568.

For children who are currently enrolled in Laurens County School District 55, parents may request a screening by contacting the principal or guidance counselor at the child’s school. The contact persons at each school are responsible for ensuring permissions are obtained within a reasonable time.

For children who live within the Laurens County School District 55 attendance zone and are homeschooled or attending a private school, parents may contact the Special Services Department at 864-984-8128.  

For students who were receiving services under IDEIA at their previous school and are transferring into Laurens County School District 55, please contact the principal or guidance counselor at your child’s school.

Parental Rights in the Child Find Process

The Child Find process is a collaborative one with school personnel working in conjunction with parents to locate, evaluate, and identify children who may need special education and related services. Parents and guardians will be provided Procedural Safeguards at the time of this collaborative meeting. Following the meeting to determine if an evaluation is warranted, parents and guardians will be issued a Prior Written Notice. Children in need of special education services or an accommodation for a disability should be identified in a timely manner. If the child is referred for a comprehensive evaluation, informed parental consent must be obtained prior to beginning the evaluation. Once written parental consent is obtained, the district will proceed with the evaluation process. The initial evaluation must be conducted within 60 calendar days of receiving parental consent for the evaluation.

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 will issue a notice of recommended educational placement/prior written notice. Written parental 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 district maintains records concerning 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 South Carolina is 18. Each participating agency must protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction states. 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 Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

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 above in the Screening Section. For preschool age children, information, screenings and evaluations requested, may be obtained by contacting the Child Find Coordinator at the District Office.

Chairperson:

The SST chairperson has the following responsibilities:

•  Scheduling the meeting and inviting the necessary persons

•  Ensuring that information about the student is brought to the meeting

•  Ensuring the orderly functioning of the meeting

•  Ensuring that required signatures are obtained for SST documentation

•  Ensuring that intervention strategies are documented

•  Maintaining a register of SST referrals

•  Scheduling follow-up meetings

•  Organizing and transferring IDEA referral information to the Special Education District Staff.

Overview of Student Support Team Meetings:

At the initial meeting, the team will review documented information from the referral source and review strategies he/she has implemented to effect academic/behavior change. The team will recommend additional interventions for the referral source to implement.

At subsequent SST meetings, the team will review the effectiveness of the interventions. At this time, further recommendations may be made, or the team may agree that no further action is required.

The amount of time between the initial meetings and the follow-up meetings should be sufficient to allow for the implementation of interventions.

The Student Support Team referral and any team documentation are to be kept by the Student Support Team chairperson in a secure location and should not be placed in the student’s cumulative file.

Confidentiality:

Laurens County School District 55

Section 504 Compliance Policy

Statement of Nondiscrimination of the Basis of Disability

It is the policy of Laurens County School District 55 to provide a free and appropriate public education to each disabled student within its jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability.

It is the intention of the District to ensure that students who are disabled within the definition of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are identified, evaluated, and provided with appropriate educational services.

Under this policy, a disabled student is one who (a) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including learning, (b) has a record of such impairment, or (c) is regarded as having such impairment.  Students may be disabled under Section 504 even though they do not require services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Due process rights of disabled students and their parents under Section 504 will be afforded.

Each principal shall designate at least one individual to serve as the school-based Section 504 Contact Person.  To coordinated the District’s educational efforts to comply with regulations of Section 504, Dr. George Ward, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services has been appointed as the District Section 504 Coordinator.