Benton Area School District Special Education
The
Benton Area School District provides a full range of meaningful
programs aimed at meeting the special needs of exceptional children.
The district in conjunction with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate
Unit has developed policies in accordance with federal and state
regulations and guidelines to insure that students receive a free
appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive
environment. Parents of exceptional children receive a written copy of
these rights as part of the guaranteed due process afforded children
with exceptionalities. Individuals may review a copy of these rights
available at the district office.
Students in
the Benton Area School District receive services through a combination
of district operated programs and services contracted through the
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit. Special education is designed to
meet the needs of each exceptional student, including specifically
designed instruction conducted in the classroom, home, community
settings, hospitals, and other appropriate settings.
Related
services available to students include transportation, developmental,
corrective and other support services to help an exceptional student
benefit from a special education program. Examples include: speech
pathology and audiology; occupational, physical, and vision therapy; and
psychoeducational evaluation.
Special
education services are available to children who qualify in accordance
with the state and federal regulations and have one or more of the
following physical or mental disabilities: autism/pervasive
developmental disorder; serious emotional disturbance; neurological
impairment; deafness/hearing impairment; specific learning disability;
speech and language impairment; blindness/visual impairment; or who have
been deemed gifted. Furthermore, these children must be determined to
be in need of special education by an individual education placement
(IEP) team based upon recommendation in a multidisciplinary evaluation.
Children
who qualify for special education services go through a process of
screening or evaluation. If a disability is suspected parents,
teachers, or other school personnel may refer a child for a screening or
evaluation by contacting the Special Education office.
Parents
who suspect that their child has an exceptionality; or parents of
children who have questions regarding their child's program should
immediately contact the school. Detailed information regarding parents
rights and special education services and programs are available from
the school district upon request.
Additional information is available at
www.pattan.net or contact PaTTAN at 610-265-7321 or TTY 610-768-9723.