Welcome to the Special Education Department
School Age Students who live within the school district identified as having a disability and needing Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) are provided a free and appropriate public education by the South Eastern School District. The educational program is determined by an Individualized Educational Program team following a multidisciplinary evaluation. The following conditions may qualify for special education service according to the Pennsylvania State Standards:
- Autism
- Deafness
- Deaf-Blindness
- Emotional Disturbance
- Hearing Impairment
- Mental Retardation/Intellectual Disability
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other health Impairment
- Specific Learning Disability
- Speech or Language Disability
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairment Including Blindness
If you believe that your child may have a disability and is in need of special education services, contact the principal at the building where your child is enrolled. A referral will be made to the Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS) team or other child study team to determine whether adjustments to the regular education program can meet your child’s educational needs. Parents are encouraged to be active participants of this team. Through this process, you may be asked for permission to evaluate your child. As a Parent you may also request an evaluation by putting your request for evaluation in writing.
A multidisciplinary team will be assembled to conduct the evaluation. The team is formed according to the suspected disability. The team will include the regular education teachers, school psychologist, building principal and you. As the parent, you will be asked for information concerning your child’s physical, emotional and academic growth. Other individualsare part of the team when deemed appropriate. The evaluation may include educational assessment, ability testing, adaptive and social behavior assessment and perceptual evaluation. A single test or procedure may not be the sole factor in determining whether a student is exceptional. Upon completion of the evaluation, recommendations regarding exceptionally and programming will be made in a written Evaluation Report.
Reevaluations are also conducted at least every three years after an eligible student is assigned to special education programming to determine continuing appropriateness of the programming.