Special Education

Welcome to the Special Education webpage. The Special Education Department strives to continually evolve and improve services within the District. We are sensitive that the special education system may seem overwhelming at times. It is our desire that, through supportive staff and administration, we are able to help guide families through special education processes as we work together to provide appropriate programming for students. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of resources that will help them understand this process. Please contact us if you want further information about our programs and services, or if you want more information of other resources in the area.

If you believe that your school-age child may need special education and related services, screening and evaluation procedures designed to assess the needs of the child and his/her eligibility are available to you at no cost, upon written request. You may request screening and evaluation at any time. Requests are to be made in writing to the building guidance counselor. Communications with parents or with thought-to-be or exceptional students are in English and, if necessary, in the native language or other mode of communication used by the parents or student.

In compliance with State and Federal Law, the School District of Pittston Area 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 access for a student to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student, the child must be of school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services for protected handicapped students are distinct from those applicable to all exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

The nation's special education law is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. As part of making special education and related services available to children with disabilities in the public schools, IDEA defines the term “child with a disability.” There are 14 recognizable categories that a child may qualify for in order to receive special education services. They are as follows;

Autism
Deaf-blindness
Deafness
Developmental delay
Emotional disturbance
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disability
Multiple disabilities
Orthopedic impairment
Other health impairment
Specific learning disability
Speech or language impairment
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment, including blindness

Pittston Area School District

Special Education