SPECIAL PUPIL SERVICES
5500 Clement Drive
(216) 587-3200 ext. 1020
Fax: (216)587-1615
EARLY ENTRANCE SCREENING
Early entrance kindergarten screening for the 2011-12 school year has been scheduled for August 15, 2011 at Rockside School, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. for children whose parents have sent in letters requesting this screening. A kindergarten teacher and the psychologists will assist with this screening process. The teacher will lead the children through a sample kindergarten session and assist the psychologists in the observation and completion of a behavior checklist for each child. During the session the psychologists will also administer a readiness screen to each child individually.
Children who will be 5 years old after September 30, 2011 but no later than December 31, 2011 may qualify for early admission in the 2011-2012 kindergarten program in the public schools if they show a high degree of maturity in areas of social, cognitive and motor development. One screening will be held on August 15th at Rockside School. If screening criteria are met, additional assessment would be conducted to determine final eligibility for early entrance.
Parents may request to have their children participate in the screening by writing Maple Heights City Schools, Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Dr., Maple Heights 44137. Parents should include the following information in the letter: Child’s name, birth date, parents’ names, address, phone number, and a brief explanation of the reasons for requesting early entrance. Please submit this information by June 30, 2011.
Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Notice
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) established funds for which school districts may apply. IDEA Part B (formerly called Title IV-B Flow-Thru) and Early Childhood Grant Applications are currently being completed by the Maple Heights City Schools for the 2011-2012 school year. The funds generated through these grant awards must be utilized in the education of children with disabilities. If you have any comments, questions, or would like additional information regarding these grant applications, you may submit them in writing to Cindy Caudill, Director of Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Drive, Maple Heights, Ohio 44137.
NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS UNDER FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate. Parents or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Director of Pupil Services clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to District officials with legitimate educational interests. A District official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the District Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another District official in performing his or her tasks.
A District official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another District in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW,
Washington, DC 20202-5901
Student records shall be available only to students and their parents, eligible students, designated school officials, and designated school personnel, who have a legitimate educational interest in the information, or to other individuals or organizations as permitted by law. Both parents shall have equal access to student records unless stipulated otherwise by court order or law. In the case of eligible students, parents may be allowed access to the records without the student's consent, provided the student is considered a dependent under section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code. Only "directory information" regarding a student shall be released to any person or party, other than the student or his/her parent, without the written consent of the parent, or, if the student is an eligible student, without the written consent of the student, except to those persons or parties stipulated by the Board's policy and administrative guidelines and/or those specified in the law.
Each year the District provides public notice to students and their parents of the District's intent to make available, upon request, certain information known as "directory information." The Board designates as student "directory information":
1. student’s name
2. student’s photograph
3. student’s extracurricular participation
4. student’s achievement awards or honors
5. student’s weight and height, if a member of an athletic team
For information about parent and student rights to inspect, review and request amendments to educational records, or if parents/students believe their rights under Federal law have been violated, please contact Cindy Caudill, Director of Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Drive, Maple Heights, 44137 or at 216-587-3200, ext. 1020.
SECTION 504 COMPLIANCE OFFICER/ADA COMPLIANCE OFFICER
The Board of Education of the Maple Heights City School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs and activities. Cindy Caudill, Director of Special Pupil Services has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies. Ms. Caudill can be contacted as follows: Maple Heights Schools, Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Drive, Maple Heights, 44137 or at 216-587-3200 ext.1020.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that every school district in the country develop a system to identify children with disabilities, birth through age 21, who live in their district. The law requires each district to conduct a “vigorous” search for children with disabilities every three years. Additionally, the Rules for Education of Handicapped Children, adopted by the Ohio Board of Education, direct that school districts must conduct an annual in-school effort to identify and provide services to children with disabilities. The latter is addressed through Maple Heights Fall Kindergarten Intervention Assistance Team process. Any child who you suspect as having a disability should be referred to the child’s building principal. The building principal will provide additional information about the differentiated referral system.
The Maple Heights School District’s Board of Education assures students, parents, and applicants for employment and employees that it will not discriminate against any individual on the basis of disabilities. The Board has established a grievance procedure as a means of reaching, at the lowest possible administrative level, a fair and equitable settlement of differences and issues relating to possible discrimination under Section 504.
The District’s Section 504 Compliance Officer is Cindy Caudill, Director of Special Pupil Services, and can be reached at the Maple Heights High School, Special Pupil Services, 5500 Clement Drive, Maple Heights, Ohio 44137.
Complaints and requests for due process hearings must be put in writing and must identify the specific circumstances or areas of dispute which have given rise to the complaint or request for a hearing, and offer possible solutions to the dispute. The complaint or request for a due process hearing must be filed with the Section 504 Compliance Officer at the address listed above. The grievance procedure may be reviewed in total by contacting the 504 Compliance Officer.
EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
All students of the District have equal educational opportunities. Students have the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, economic status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability or military status in all decisions affecting admissions; membership in school-sponsored organizations, clubs or activities; access to facilities; distribution of funds; academic evaluations or any other aspects of school-sponsored activities. Any limitations with regard to participation in a school-sponsored activity are based on criteria reasonably related to that specific activity.
SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS SERVED BY DISTRICT*
Multiple Disabilities – 23
Deaf/Blind – 0
Hearing Impairments – 8
Visual Impairments – 0
Speech & Language Impairments – 51
Orthopedic Impairments – 1
Emotional Disturbance (SBH) – 34
Mental Retardation (DH) – 104
Specific Learning Disability – 205
Ages 3-5 with a Disability – 39
Autism – 21
Traumatic Brain Injury – 3
Other Health Handicapped, Major – 2
Other Health Handicapped, Minor – 65
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Total – 556
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*The data above reflects official count from the December 2010 child count of special education students as reported to the Ohio Department of Education. This count does not include special education non-resident students.