Annual Notice

The Bethel Park School District uses the following procedures for locating, identifying, and evaluating the specific needs of school-aged students requiring special programs or services. These procedures are described in this notice as required by law.

As prescribed by Section 1402 of the School Code, the District routinely conducts screenings of a child’s hearing acuity in Kindergarten, 1, 2, 3, 7, and 11 grades. Visual acuity is screened in all grades annually. Speech and language skills are screened in Kindergarten and on a referral basis. New students are initially screened during the year of admission. Gross motor and fine motor skills, academic skills, and social-emotional skills are assessed by classroom teachers on an ongoing basis. Other screening activities include, but are not limited to, the review of cumulative group-based achievement and ability data; health and attendance records; grades; and information shared by the parents. Specified needs from these screening sources are noted in the child’s official file.

School records are always open and available to parents and only to school officials with legitimate “need to know” information about the student. Information from the records is released to other persons or agencies only with appropriate authorization involving parents' written, signed permission.

Parents with concerns regarding their child may contact building principals anytime to request a screening or evaluation of their child, or by contacting Student Support Services. (The Names and phone numbers of the appropriate contacts are listed at the end of this notice.) Communication with parents and eligible students shall be in English or the parents' native language.

Screening information will be used by the Student Assistance Team within the student’s school to meet his or her specific needs or to document the need for further evaluation. Student Assistance services are provided to students in grades kindergarten through 12. The pre-referral process identifies those students at risk for academic or behavioral needs and includes parental involvement in determining whether a student may benefit from intervention services. Individual student plans are developed, and specific goals are monitored with data to determine student progress and the efficacy of interventions. If a student is not making sufficient progress, the school district may issue a referral for evaluation, or a parent may request a multi-disciplinary evaluation at any time.

The Multidisciplinary Team comprises parents, teachers, certified school psychologists, related service personnel, and persons familiar with the student’s educational experience and cultural background. The evaluations conducted by the Team must be sufficient in scope and depth to provide information about the student’s academic functioning, adaptive and social behavior, learning problems, strengths, information obtained by the Student Assistance Team, and information from the parents. After evaluations are completed, an Evaluation Report (ER) will be compiled, including specific recommendations for the interventions necessary to meet the student’s needs. This evaluation will be completed, and a report will be sent to the parents within 60 calendar days. Parents are then invited to participate in a meeting to discuss the evaluation results.

Suppose the student meets the criteria for the presence of a disability and needs specially designed instruction. In that case, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will then be developed for specially designed instruction for the student within 30 calendar days. The IEP team must consist of the student’s parent(s), special education teacher, regular education teacher(s), and local education agency representative (LEA). If determined, students of transition age or younger must be invited to participate. The building principal, Director of Student Support Services, or Supervisor of Special Education will serve as the chair/LEA, and a district psychologist, other specialists as needed, and other administrative staff, when appropriate, may attend.

Before initiating services, parents will be presented with a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement, which explains the services and educational placement recommendations. Parental consent must be obtained before providing initial special education and related services. The Procedural Safeguards Notice describes the parents’ rights and options if they disagree with the individualized program presented.

Services for Mentally Gifted Students

When screening results suggest a student may be eligible for Gifted Education, the school district seeks parental consent to conduct a multidisciplinary evaluation. Additionally, a parent may request a multi-disciplinary evaluation at any time. The initial evaluation based on a multiple criteria approach is summarized in the Gifted Written Report (GWR) and used by the Gifted Individualized Education Program (GIEP) team to develop the GIEP. After the initial evaluation, students identified as mentally gifted are reevaluated before a change in educational placement is recommended or under the recommendation of the GIEP team. The Notice of Recommended Assignment (NORA), signed by the parent, gives the school district permission to provide services. Parents can obtain further information by contacting their child’s school principal or the District’s Student Support Services at 412-854-8410.

Services for Eligible School-Age Students

The Bethel Park School District provides eligible students with a free, appropriate public education. To qualify as an eligible student, the child must be of school age, in need of specially-designed instruction, and meet eligibility criteria for one or more of the following physical or mental disabilities, as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act and Pennsylvania State Regulations: Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Deafness, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech or Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Visual Impairment including Blindness.

The Bethel Park School District provides eligible students various placement options and services. Options in the district range from supportive intervention in the regular classroom to itinerant, supplemental, or full-time levels of intervention, depending on the student’s individual needs. Inclusive intervention practices of the general education curriculum and classroom with supplementary aids and services are the first step in the continuum of placement options. Other placement options to meet the student’s needs may include, but are not limited to, services secured from the Intermediate Unit, another school district, an approved private school, or a private licensed academic school program. Placement options provide all eligible students with free and appropriate public education (FAPE). The District also offers related services such as, but not limited to, transportation, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing services, psychological services, social worker services, paraeducator support, and personal care assistant services.

The following programs are currently provided within the District: Learning Support, Life Skills Support, Emotional Support, Autistic Support, Blind or Visually Impaired Support, Deaf and Hearing Impaired Support, Physical Support, Speech and Language Support, and Gifted Support. As evidence of the full continuum of services, educational placements outside of the District have included, but are not limited to, Emotional Support at Pace School, Wesley School Programs; Learning Support at ACLD Tillotson School; Life Skills Support at Mon Valley School, Pathfinder School, Education Center at the Watson Institute, and the Children’s Institute; Blind or Visually Impaired Support at Western Pennsylvania School for the Blind; Deaf and Hearing Impaired Support at the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech; Autistic Support at Wesley School Programs, Pathfinder School, Mon Valley School, Pressley Ridge Day School for Autism; and Multiple Disabilities Support at the Children’s Institute and Pathfinder School.

Services for Students Who are English Learners

The education of students whose dominant language is not English is the responsibility of every school district/charter school in Pennsylvania. English learners must be enrolled upon presentation of a local address and proof of immunization. The Home Language Survey (HLS) is administered to all students and retained in the student’s permanent record. For those students whose primary home language is other than English (PHLOTE), the district must also determine the student’s English language proficiency, and, if appropriate, English as a Second Language instruction will be provided following all regulations, policies, and procedures. Parents can obtain further information by contacting their child’s school principal or the District’s Student Support Services at 412-854-8410.

Services for Students Identified as Homeless and/or Foster Care

In compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the Bethel Park School District is attempting to identify all children within the district who may be experiencing homelessness. The District implements child-finding activities for other students, in addition to those identified as homeless or in foster care, such as wards of the state, highly mobile children, and migrant children, to provide equal access to evaluations and services.

Homeless children and youth are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This includes individuals who are:

Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason.
Living in a hotel, motel, trailer park, or campground due to inadequate alternative accommodations.
Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
Living in cars, parks, public places, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
Living in substandard housing (no running water, working utilities, infestations, etc.).
Unaccompanied homeless youth means any child not in the physical custody of a parent/guardian.

Children who are experiencing homelessness may qualify for enrollment in free breakfast and lunch programs, access to appropriate instructional and social-emotional learning supports, and transportation so they can remain in their school of origin.

If you believe your child/children may qualify for these services or your living situation changes during the school year and your children become homeless, don't hesitate to contact Dr. David Muench at [email protected].

Additional family information can be found in the school’s handbook and at BPSD Homeless Information. The district will work with any parent or guardian to ensure that your child’s education suffers as little disruption as possible.

Dr. David Muench, Homeless Education Liaison, Bethel Park School District Student Support Services Department, 412-854-8410.

Services for Students in Nonpublic Schools

Services for Preschool Age Children

Act 212, the Early Intervention System Act, entitles all preschool-age children with disabilities to appropriate early intervention services. Young children experiencing developmental delays or physical or mental disabilities are eligible for early intervention services, including screening, evaluation, individualized education program planning, and provision of appropriate programs and services.

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare services infants and toddlers, defined as children from birth through two years of age. Contact the Alliance for Infants and Toddlers at 2801 Custer Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15227, (412) 885-6000, or on the internet at http://www.afit.org/.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is responsible for providing services to preschool-age children from three to five years of age. Contact Project DART of the Allegheny Intermediate Unit at 475 E. Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA 15120, (412) 394-5736, or on the internet at http://www.aiu3.net/.

Bethel Park School District ensures that all students transitioning from early intervention programs to kindergarten or first grade programs within the District are transitioned without disruption of services. Parents of children entering school-age programs are notified of the District’s transition activities, which occur before kindergarten registration each year. The District follows the federal and state regulations on the evaluation process based on identified needs, subsequent documentation, and provision of special education and related services.

Information Regarding Signs of Developmental Delays and Other Risk Factors for Parents to Look for that May Indicate the Possibility of a Disability

Suppose your child is less than the age of beginners (age 5 before September 1) and at least 3 years of age. In that case, your child may be considered to have a developmental delay when difficulties exist in cognitive, communicative, physical, social/emotional, and self-help development, where a delay in comparison to typical development is present. Parents who have questions about their child’s development or the possible presence of a disability may talk with their family physician or healthcare provider or contact the Allegheny County Health Department at 412-687-2243.

If you have questions regarding difficulties your child may be experiencing, please contact the Student Support Services at 412-854-8410.

Potential signs of developmental delay and other risk factors that could indicate the presence of a disability may include:

By the age of 3: Not saying many words; not using 2-3 word phrases and sentences; not walking; awkward gait (walking); excessive salivation; not answering “show” or “what” questions; and/or not using utensils to feed self.
By the age of 4 (all of the above included): Not toilet trained; difficulty with directional words (in, on, under, out); not playing with other children; not able to draw a circle, cross or imitate a vertical line; not able to understand the child’s speech most of the time; and/or difficulty following simple two-step directions.
By the age of 5 (all of the above included): unable to answer “where” questions; unable to recall details from a story; not drawing a person with at least 6 parts; immature speech patterns (“me” instead of “I”); and not able to hop forward on one foot without support.
Other warning signs at any age: Little to no eye contact; over/under sensitivities to pain, light, noise; hand flapping; no awareness of space (always bumping into other people or things); awkward hand or foot positioning; won’t touch or eat certain textures; child no longer can do things he/she used to do; developed normally, then stopped; echoes what is said; and/or plays with toys inappropriately (watches wheels spin on a car toy, but does not play with the car).

Additional information, fact sheets on child development from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY), and other resources may be found on the Student Support Services webpage, located at www.bpsd.org/SpecialServices.aspx.

Protected Handicapped Students/Chapter 15

The Bethel Park School District, in compliance with state and federal law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Chapter 15 of the Pennsylvania Public School Code, will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services, or accommodations which are needed to provide the student equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities. To qualify as a protected handicapped student, the child must be of school age with a physical or mental disability or diagnosis that substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services and protections for "protected handicapped students" are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

For further information on the evaluation procedures and provisions of services to protected handicapped students, contact the Student Support Services at 412-854-8410.

Confidentiality of Student Records

Bethel Park School District and its employees are required by Federal Law and State and Federal Rules and Regulations to protect the rights of students, including confidentiality of personally identifiable information for all students under state and federal law and the District’s student records policy. The foundation of these rights comes from Federal legislation entitled the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as the Buckley Amendments). State Rules and Regulations deal with the rights and privacy of regular and special education students. The State Regulations cover all students contained in Chapter 12, known as Students’ Rights and Responsibilities.

The basic premise of the abovementioned laws, rules, and regulations is that information about students cannot be disclosed without written parental consent. There are different categories of information: Educational Records, Personally Identifiable Information, and Directory Information. Education Records consist of information directly related to students maintained by the educational agency. Personally Identifiable Information includes the student’s name, the name of the parent or other family members, a personal identifier, or a list of personal characteristics that would make the student’s identity easily traceable.

Education Records and Personally Identifiable Information cannot be disclosed or released without written parent consent or if a student is over 18 without the student's permission.

There is certain information that can be released without consent, which is called Directory Information. Directory Information means information contained in a student's educational record that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The School District designates what information is labeled as Directory Information. It shall include the following: the student’s name, address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees, and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student.

Disclosure of information means permitting access to or the release, transfer, or other communication of education records or the personally identifiable information contained in these records to any party by any means, including oral, written, or electronic means. This means that information about a student cannot even be shared in conversation without permission. This also applies to other Bethel Park personnel who need an educationally relevant reason to possess a student's knowledge.

Written parental consent is necessary to disclose Personally Identifiable Information and Educational Records. The consent must:

Specify the records that may be disclosed
State the purpose of the disclosure
Identify the party or class of parties to whom the disclosure may be made.

Furthermore, the Bethel Park School District must maintain a written disclosure record for the parents to inspect in case information has been released.

Under 34 CFR §300.624, please be advised of the following retention/destruction schedule for the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA), Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), and Keystone Exam-related materials:

PSSA, Keystone Exam, and PASA test booklets will be destroyed one year after student reports are delivered for the administration associated with the test booklets.
The PSSA and Keystone Exam answer booklets and PASA media recordings will be destroyed three years after the assessment is completed.

A parent may file a written complaint alleging that the rights described in this notice were not provided to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Special Education, Division of Compliance, 333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333.

The Department of Education will investigate the matter and issue a report of findings and necessary corrective action within 60 days. The Department will take necessary action to ensure compliance is achieved. Complaints alleging the school district's failures concerning the confidentiality of personally identifiable information may also be filed with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The Bethel Park School District will not discriminate in its education programs, activities, or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual preference, disability, age, religion, ancestry, union membership, or any other legally protected classification. Announcement of this policy follows state and federal laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Employees and participants who have an inquiry or complaint of harassment or discrimination or who need information about accommodations for persons with disabilities should contact: the Office of the Superintendent, 301 Church Road, Bethel Park, PA 15102, (412) 854-8402, or the Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20202-1100.