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Meeting ID: 968 7946 4992

The mission of the Warren County School District is to support the personal and intellectual success and wellness of every student, every day.

Principles for Governance and Leadership

Pennsylvania school boards are committed to providing every student the opportunity to grow and achieve.  Our actions, as elected and appointed board members, ultimately have both short- and long-term impact in the classroom.  Therefore, we pledge that we will...

Evaluate Continuously

• Make data-informed decisions
• Evaluate the superintendent annually
• Conduct a board self-assessment on a recurring basis
• Focus on student growth and achievement
• Review effectiveness of all comprehensive and strategic plans

Finacial Reports

1. IU5 - Mr. Paul Mangione

2. PSBA Liaison - Mrs. Marcy Morgan

3. Career Center Advisory - Mrs. Donna Zariczny

Yearly PSBA member entities are asked to cast a vote for each PSBA Officer. The list of candidates and their biographies/statements can be found at the link below.  Please review the online information and view candidate videos.

After discussion and consensus, the Board will direct the Board Secretary how to cast its vote.  Online voting closes October 27, 2023.

https://www.psba.org/psba-officer-elections/

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

This purchase is for a Sensory Room at Beaty Warren Middle School (BWMS). This resource will support students with Autism and other disabilities that benefit from sensory supports. “Sensory-friendly” often refers to an environment in which kids are given the sensory input they need to self-regulate and decompress; alternatively, it’s an environment that lacks overstimulating sensory input. Sensory rooms are focused on providing the best sensory input for specific needs. By using a variety of therapeutic equipment, kids learn to self-regulate their behaviors and ultimately improve their focus. These are typically categorized as “active” or “calming” rooms; sometimes the Fun and Function team creates a hybrid space to serve a wider variety of sensory needs. Often children will start off in an active space and finish in a calming section to bring the sensory experience full circle. The most important piece of using a sensory room is that it be incorporated into the child’s everyday routine. Spending time in the room should not be held as reward or punishment, rather as part of the overall “sensory diet.”

Please see the attachments.

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Please see the attachments.

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

9310    Gifted Education

1. Gifted Education

The District shall develop and implement a gifted education plan every 6 years, as required by law.  Prior to approval by the Board, the gifted education plan shall be made available for public inspection and comment in the District’s administrative offices (in the Board Secretary’s office) and posted on the District’s publicly accessible website for a minimum of 28 days.

The District’s gifted education plan shall address:

1. The District’s process for identifying gifted children in need of specially designed instruction.
    
2. The gifted education program offered by the District.
    
3. Reports on gifted students, personnel and program elements, and costs, as required by the Department of Education.

2. Gifted Education Program

The Board directs that the District’s gifted education program shall provide the following:

1. A system to locate and identify all students within the District who are thought to be gifted and in need of specially designed instruction.
    
2. A screening and evaluation process that meets state requirements, to determine students’ educational needs.
    
3. Procedures to determine whether a student is mentally gifted.
    
4. A Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) developed, and subsequently modified, for each student based on his/her unique needs and the written report of the Gifted Multidisciplinary Team (GMDT).
    
5. Safeguards for the due process rights of gifted students.
    
6. Notification to teachers of their responsibilities to each of the identified gifted students, as provided in the student’s Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP).

3. Additional Guidelines

The District shall make the Permission to Evaluate form readily available to parents/guardians.  If a written or verbal request for the form is made to a principal, administrator, or professional employee, the form shall be provided to the parents/guardians within 10 calendar days of the request.   

The Board directs the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s designated principals and/or administrators to annually assess the District’s delivery of gifted services and programs in order to:

1. Ensure the ability of assigned staff to provide the services required in each identified student’s GIEP.
    
2. Address the educational placements for gifted students within the District.
    
3. Limit the total number of gifted students that can be on an individual gifted teacher’s caseload to a maximum of 65 students.
    
4. Limit the total number of gifted students that can be on an individual gifted teacher’s class roster to a maximum of 20 students.

The District may make a written request to the Secretary of Education to waive the applicable caseload and class size maximums in extenuating circumstances.

4. Confidentiality of Student Records

All personally identifiable information regarding a gifted student shall be treated as confidential and disclosed only as permitted by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), applicable regulations, and Policy 10920.  

5. Awareness Activities

The Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee shall annually conduct awareness activities to inform parents/guardians of school-aged children residing within the District of its gifted education services and programs, and how to request these services and programs.

Awareness activities may include providing written notice of the District’s gifted education program through local newspapers, other media, student handbooks and the District Website.

6. Administrative Procedures

The Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee may develop administrative procedures as deemed necessary to implement this Policy.

Adoption Date   -        ______________, 2023

Revision Date       -    

Review Date         -    

Legal Reference    -     24 P.S. §1371; 22 Pa Code §4.13; 22 Pa Code §4.28;

                                    22 PaCode §11.12; 22 Pa Code §16.1, et seq.; 20 U.S.C. §1232g,

Cross Reference    -     Policy 10920        

Authority

It is the duty of the Board to ensure that all children living within its jurisdiction have an equal opportunity to receive a free and appropriate education and to require school attendance by all children living within the District, as prescribed by law.  

The educational program offered by the District is predicated upon the presence of the student in school.  In order for students to benefit from planned educational activities and classroom participation, it is essential that regular attendance be maintained. 

Definitions

“School age” shall be defined as the period from the earliest admission age for the District's kindergarten program until graduation from high school or the end of the school term in which a student reaches the age of twenty-one (21) years, whichever occurs first.

“School age” for a student with a disability under the IDEA shall be defined as the period from the earliest admission age for the District's kindergarten program until graduation from high school or the date on which the student reaches the age of twenty-two (22) years.

“District of residence” shall be defined as the school district in which a student's parents/guardians reside.

“Compulsory school age,” shall be defined as the period of a child's life from the time the child's parents elect to have the child enter school and which shall be no later than six (6) years of age until the child reaches eighteen (18) years of age.  The term shall not include any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered, or approved high school.

Right to Attend Public School

The District shall enroll school age students eligible to attend District schools, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, Board policy and administrative regulations.

For purposes of the above definition of “school age,” in order to meet the earliest admission age for the District’s kindergarten program, the student must be five-years-old before the first day of school of the school year in which admission is sought.  Beginning with the 2020/2021 school year, and continuing thereafter, in order to meet the earliest admission age for the District’s kindergarten program, the student must be five years old on or before July 1.  No early admission to Kindergarten shall be permitted. 

In order to be eligible for first grade as a beginner, the student must be six years old before the first day of school of the school year in which admission is sought.  Beginning with the 2021/2022 school year, and continuing thereafter, in order to be eligible for first grade as a beginner, the student must be six years old on or before July 1.  No early admission to first grade as a beginner shall be permitted. 

Enrollment Requirements

School age resident students and eligible nonresident students shall be entitled to attend District schools.

The District shall not enroll a student until the parent/guardian has submitted proof of the student's age, residence, and immunizations and a completed Parent Registration Statement, as required by the applicable law and regulations.

The District shall administer a home language survey to all students enrolling in District schools for the first time.

The District shall normally enroll a school age, eligible student the next business day, but no later than five (5) business days after application.

The District shall not inquire about the immigration status of a student as part of the enrollment process, nor shall any child’s right to be admitted to school be conditioned on the child’s immigration status. 

Enrollment requirements and administrative regulations shall apply to nonresident students approved to attend District schools, in accordance with Board policy, by the Superintendent.

Residency Eligibility

When the parents of a student reside in different school districts, the student may attend school in the district of residence of the parent with whom the student lives for the majority of the time, unless a court order or court approved custody agreement specifies otherwise.

If the parents of a student share joint custody and time is evenly divided, the parents may choose which of the two (2) school districts the student will enroll in for the school year.

If the student is an emancipated minor, the resident school district shall be the one in which the student is then living.

Homeless students shall be enrolled immediately by the District in accordance with current federal and state regulations and Policy 10135.

The Superintendent or his/her designee is empowered to develop administrative procedures, in compliance with state requirements, which guarantee the right of every school-age resident student and eligible nonresident student to attend the public school.

A student’s assigned school shall be the school located in his/her attendance area unless special programs, services or facilities necessitate assignment to another building. 

Non-Resident Students

Non-resident students of school age who are living with and under the supervision of a District resident shall be entitled to the same educational programs and services as those enjoyed by resident students providing that authorization and an appropriate agreement with the non-resident student’s home district is in place. 

The Superintendent, or his/her designee, shall require that appropriate legal documentation showing dependency or guardianship or a sworn statement of full residential support be filed with the appropriate building Principal before an eligible nonresident student may be accepted as a student in District schools. The Superintendent, or his/her designee, may require a resident to submit additional, reasonable information to substantiate a sworn statement, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Education.  The Superintendent, or his/her designee, reserves the right to verify claims of residency, dependency and guardianship and to remove from school attendance a nonresident student whose claim is invalid.

If information contained in the sworn statement of residential support is found to be false, the student shall be removed from school after notice is given of an opportunity to appeal the student's removal.  The District shall not be responsible for transportation to or from school for any nonresident student residing outside District boundaries.

Tuition rates shall be determined in accordance with statute. Tuition shall be charged monthly, in advance of attendance.

Nonresident Children Placed In The District

Any child placed in the home of a District resident by a court or government agency shall be admitted to District schools and shall receive the same benefits and be subject to the same responsibilities as resident children.

Other Nonresident Students

A nonresident student may be admitted to District schools without payment of tuition where attendance is justified on the grounds that the student lives full-time and not just for the school year with District residents who have assumed legal dependency or guardianship or full residential support of the student.

The category of “non-resident students” includes school-aged students residing in foster homes or an institution or other facility within the District.

The Superintendent, or his/her designee, shall develop procedures for the enrollment of nonresident students which:

1. Admit such students only on proper application and submission of required documentation by the parent/guardian.
2. Verify claims of residency.
3. Do not exclude any eligible student on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or handicap/disability.
4. Deny admission where the educational facilities or program maintained for District students is inadequate to meet the needs of the applicant.
5. Make continued enrollment of any nonresident student contingent upon maintaining established standards of attendance, discipline and academics.
6. Outline the appeal procedure relative to the removal of a student.

Absences from School

Students shall be excused from school only for absences which are stipulated as “excusable” in the school code.  When a student is absent from school for reasons which are not consistent with “excused absences” in the school code, the absences shall be recognized as “unexcused.” The District shall maintain procedures and attendance/absence records in compliance with the school code.

Excessive Absences

The District has a responsibility to investigate excessive absences by students.  This applies to students of compulsory school age as well as those beyond compulsory school age.  A Doctor’s excuse shall be requested when excessive absences occur.  Students beyond compulsory school age may not be maintained on District rolls when they do not attend school regularly.  The District shall maintain procedures regarding truancy and for investigating excessive absences.

Withholding Academic Credit; Missed Tests, Assignments, and Other Work

Academic credit may not be withheld on the basis of excessive excused or unexcused absences.  A student shall be afforded the opportunity to make up any tests, assignments, or other work that is missed on a day the student has an excused or an unexcused absence.  A teacher, at his/her discretion, may also utilize a class participation grading component that is impacted by absences.  The timeframe within which any missed test, assignment, or other work must be made up; any penalty assessed for a test, assignment or other work that is completed late due to the fault of the student; and the parameters of a class participation grading component shall be governed by a separate administrative procedure that is approved by the Superintendent and included as a part of the Student Handbook. 

A student may be removed from the Warren County Career Center, awarded pro-rated credit for work completed at the Warren County Career Center, and returned to his/her home school if the student accrues an excessive number of absences during the school year and while enrolled at the Warren County Career Center.  The threshold number of absences and the procedure to remove a student shall be governed by a separate administrative procedure that is approved by the Superintendent and included as a part of the Student Handbook. 

Adoption Date      -     September 13, 1999

Revision Date       -     October 11, 2010; January 10, 2011; August 12, 2013; January 11, 2016; July 31, 2017; January 8, 2018; August 26, 2019; July 13, 2020; August 28, 2023;  _________, 2023

Review Date         -    

Legal Reference    -     School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 501, 502, 1301, 1302, 1303a, 1305, 1306, 1306.2, 1309, 1310, 1316, 1326, 2503, 2561

                                 State Board of Education Regulations – 22 PA Code Sec. 11.11, 11.12, 11.14, 11.15, 11.18, 11.19, 11.41, 12.1

                                 Pa. Dept. of Educ. BEC §13-1301 – §13-1306 (2009)

                                 Pa. Dept. of Educ. BEC §5-503 (2000)

Cross Reference    -    10135

The Board recognizes that students require adequate, nourishing food and beverages in order to grow, learn and maintain good health and directs that students shall be provided with adequate space and time to eat meals during the school day.  The Superintendent or his/her designee is authorized to develop and disseminate administrative procedures to implement this policy.

The District shall ensure, in the operation of the food service program, no student, staff member, or other individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability

The food service program and the procurement of goods or services for the food service program shall be operated in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations, as well as, federal guidelines established by the Child Nutrition Division of the United States Department of Agriculture.  The price charged to students shall be established annually by the District in compliance with state and federal laws.

Non-program food shall be priced to generate sufficient revenues to cover the cost of such items. A non-program food shall be defined as a food or beverage, other than a reimbursable meal or snack, that is sold at the school and is purchased using funds from the child nutrition account. Non-program foods include but are not limited to adult meals and a-la-carte items.  All revenue from the sale of non-program food shall accrue to the child nutrition program account.

The operation and supervision of the food service program shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent or his/her designee, who shall ensure school meals meet the standards required by the School Breakfast Program, the National School Lunch Program and the Special Milk Program.  Cafeterias shall be operated on a nonprofit basis, and a periodic review of the cafeteria accounts shall be made by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

The Superintendent or designee shall annually notify students, parents/guardians and employees concerning the contents of this policy and applicable administrative procedures.  Notification shall include information related to nondiscrimination.

The District shall use USDA Foods for school menus available under the Child Nutrition USDA Foods Programs.

The District shall provide free and reduced-price meals and/or free milk to students in accordance with the terms and conditions of the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program and the Special Milk Program.  The anonymity of recipients of free or reduced-price meals and/or free milk shall be preserved as required by law. 

The District participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This program is available to schools and school districts that are participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.  Pursuant to this program, all enrolled students, district-wide, are eligible to receive a nutritious reimbursable breakfast and lunch each school day at no charge.

 The District shall make appropriate food service and/or meal accommodations to students with special dietary needs in accordance with applicable law, regulations and Board policy.

The District shall obtain two safety inspections per year in accordance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.  The District shall post the most recent inspection report and release a copy of the report to members of the public upon request. 

The District shall comply with federal requirements in developing a food safety program that enables District schools to take systematic action to prevent or minimize the risk of foodborne illness among students.  The District shall maintain proper sanitation and health standards in food storage, preparation and service, in accordance with applicable state and local laws and regulations and federal food safety requirements.

The District shall comply with the professional standards for school food service personnel who manage and operate the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. For purposes of this policy, professional standards include hiring standards for new food service program directors and annual continuing education/training for all individuals involved in the operation and administration of school meal programs. Such professional standards shall apply to both District-operated food service programs and contracted food service programs.

Adoption Date      -     September 13, 1999

Revision Date       -     September 1, 2017; _____________, 2023

Review Date -

Legal Reference    -     24 P.S. 1335; 24 PS 1337; 24 PS 504; 24 PS 807.1;

                                    42 USC 1751, et. seq.; 2 CFR Part 200; 7 CFR Part 210;

                                    7 CFR Part 215; 7 CFR Part 220; 7 CFR Part 245; 7 CFR Part 15;

                                    3 Pa.C.S.A. 5713

Cross Reference    -     Policy 5501, 5506, 5510, and 10615

Operation of vending machines and other food sales should not occur during the period between midnight prior to the start of school until ½ hour after dismissal and will be controlled so that they will not offer competition to the food service program or encourage students in poor eating habits.

The guidelines for services and sale of all food and beverages to students during school hours will be directed by the Superintendent of his/her designee. Revenues derived from vending machine sales established by the Food Service Department will accrue to the food service program revenue budget.

Subject to the restriction specified in paragraph one, vending machines and other food sales may be operated/conducted by authorized school and/or employee organizations.  Revenues derived from these vending machine sales and other food sales will accrue to the appropriate school/employee organization.

Adoption Date         -     September 13, 1999

Revision Date          -     ___________, 2023

Review Date            -    

Legal Reference       -    

Cross Reference       -    

1.   Purpose

This policy addresses the manner in which the District will respond to unauthorized access and acquisition of computerized data that compromises the security and confidentiality of personal information.

2.   Reporting a Data Breach

The Board directs any actual or suspected data breach (including unauthorized access to sensitive electronic data or exceeding one's authorization to electronic data) must be reported to the Director in charge of Technology as soon as is practicable under the circumstances. The Board further directs that any data breach resulting in unauthorized access to unredacted and unencrypted personal information shall be reported to the Superintendent as soon as is practicable under the circumstances.  

3.   Definitions

Data Breach - Unauthorized access and acquisition of computerized data that materially compromises the security or confidentiality of personal information maintained by the District as part of the database of personal information regarding multiple individuals and that the District reasonably believes has caused or will cause loss or injury to any state resident. Good faith acquisition of personal information by an employee or agent of the school District for the purpose of the District is not a breach of the security of the system if the personal information is not used for a purpose other than the lawful purpose of the District and is not subject to further unauthorized disclosure.

Encryption - The use of an algorithmic process to transform data into a form in which there is a low probability of assigning meaning without use of confidential process or key.

Health insurance information - An individual's health insurance policy number or subscriber identification number in combination with access code or other medical information that permits misuse of an individual's health insurance benefits.

Individual - A natural person.

Medical information - Any individually identifiable information contained in the individual's current or historical record of medical history or medical treatment or diagnosis created by a health care professional.

Personal information - Includes an individual’s first name or first initial and last name in combination with and linked to any one or more of the following, when not encrypted or redacted:

1. Social security number.
    
2. Driver’s license number or state identification card number issued instead of a driver’s license.
    
3. Financial account number, credit or debit card number, in combination with any required security code, access code or password that would permit access to an individual’s financial account.
    
4. Medical information.
    
5. Health insurance information.
    
6. A username or e-mail address, in combination with a password or security question and answer that would permit access to an online account.

Personal information does not include publicly available information that is lawfully made available to the general public from federal, state or local government records, or widely distributed media.

Records - Any material, regardless of its physical form, on which information is recorded or preserved by any means, including written or spoken words, graphically depicted, printed or electromagnetically transmitted. This term does not include publicly available directories containing information that an individual has voluntarily consented to have publicly disseminated or listed, such as name, address or telephone number.

Redaction - Includes, but is not limited to, alteration or truncation such that no more than the last four digits of a social security number, driver's license number, State identification card number or account number is accessible as part of the data.

4.  Notification of a Data Breach

In the event of a data breach that results in unauthorized access to unredacted and unencrypted personal information the Superintendent, or his/her designee, shall follow the notification procedures required by the Breach of Personal Information Notification Act and provide notification to any resident of the Commonwealth who’s unencrypted and unredacted personal information was, or is reasonably believed to have been, accessed and acquired by an unauthorized person.  Such notice shall be made within seven (7) business days of the day on which the breach was determined, except when a law enforcement agency determines and advises the District in writing that the notification would impede a criminal or civil investigation (in such case, the required notification will then be made after the law enforcement agency determines that such notification does not compromise the investigation or national or homeland security).

Additionally, the District shall provide notice to the District Attorney in the county where the breach occurred within three (3) business days of the day on which the breach was determined.   The District shall also provide notice of the breach if the encrypted information is accessed and acquired in an unencrypted form, if the security breach is linked to a breach of security of the encryption, or if the security breach involves a person with access to the encryption key.

The District shall provide notice by at least one (1) of the following methods:

1. Written notice to last known home address for the individual.
    
2. Telephone notice - if the individual can be reasonably expected to receive the notice and the notice is given in a clear and conspicuous manner; describes the incident in general terms; verifies the personal information but does not require the individual to provide personal information; and provides a telephone number to call or Internet website to visit for further information or assistance.
    
3. Email notice - if a prior business relationship exists and the school District has a valid email address for the individual.
    
4. Electronic notice - if the notice directs the individual whose personal information has been materially compromised by breach of the security of the system to promptly change the individual’s password and security question or answer, as applicable, or to take other steps appropriate to protect the individual’s online account, and other online accounts that may use the same user name, email address and password or security question or answer, to the extent the District has sufficient contact information for the individual.
    
5. Substitute notice - if the District demonstrates one (1) of the following:

1. The cost of notice would exceed $100,000.
    
2.  The affected individuals exceed 175,000 people.
    
3.  The District does not have sufficient contact information for the individual. 

Substitute notice shall consist of an email notice, when the District has an email address for the individual; conspicuous posting of the notice on the District’s website; and notification to major statewide media.

If the District provides notification to more than 1,000 persons at one (1) time, the District shall also notify all consumer reporting agencies that compile and maintain files on consumers on a nationwide basis of the timing, distribution, and number of notices, without unreasonable delay.

5.  Data Security Controls

The District shall utilize technical controls such as firewalls, virus/malware detection, network access controls, user access controls, intrusion detection systems, encryption,
and/or regular software updates to maintain the integrity and security of all the District's electronic data.  Unredacted and unencrypted personal information shall be accessible to individual users on a need-to-know basis only, and the District shall utilize technical controls to restrict access to individuals with a legitimate educational or operational purposed to access such information.  

6.  Vendors

The District may engage vendors who will need to have access to unredacted and unencrypted personal information to perform a service for the District.  The contract for any such vendor shall include a provision that the vendor is required to adhere to the same data security standards as outlined in this Policy and that to the fullest extent permitted by law, the vendor shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the School District, and the School District’s employees, agents, Board Members, directors, officers, and representatives from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees and costs) arising from a data breach associated with the vendor, an employee of the vendor, the vendor’s computer system, or any personal device used by an employee of the vendor.

Any vendor that maintains, stores or manages computerized data on behalf of the District shall provide the District with notice of any breach of the security of the system following discovery by the vendor.  The District shall then be responsible for complying with the Breach of Personal Information Notification Act.  

7.   Personal E-mail & Personal Electronic Devices

Employees shall not use personal e-mail accounts (accounts not issued by the District) or personal electronic devices (those not issued by the District) to transmit or store personal information.  

8.   Administrative Procedures

The Superintendent or his/her designee may develop administrative procedures to implement this Policy.  

9.   Penalties for Violations

A District employee who violates this Policy or any associated administrative procedure may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, in accordance with all applicable District disciplinary policies and procedures.  If warranted, referrals will be made to law enforcement.

The violation of this Policy by a vendor, depending on the severity, may be considered a material breach of contract that warrants contract termination and/or that serves as just cause to not contract with the vendor in the future.  If warranted, referrals will be made to law enforcement.

10.   Handbooks and Website

This Policy shall be included in applicable handbooks and posted on the District website.   

Adoption Date                  -     October 9, 2023

Revision Date                   -    

Review Date                     -    

Legal Reference                -     73 P.S. §2301, et. seq., 15 U.S.C. §1681a

Cross Reference                -    

Definition of Student with a Disability:

A student with a disability is defined as a child at least five years of age, but not yet twenty-two years of age, who, in accordance with state and federal guidelines, deviates from the average in physical, cognitive, or emotional characteristics to such an extent that he/she requires specially designed instruction or services. 

Identification of Student with a Disability:

Under the direction of the Superintendent, the District shall develop and maintain a system for identifying children, residing in the District, who may be eligible for services as a student with a disability.  This identification system shall be in keeping with state and federal requirements.  The district shall establish and implement a system of procedural safeguards and parental notification.

In order to identify resident students with learning disabilities, the Board directs that four factors shall be used to determine the eligibility as a student with specific learning disabilities.  The four factors are as follows:

1.   A multidisciplinary evaluation team shall address whether the child does not achieve adequately for the child’s age or meet state-approved grade-level experiences and scientifically based instruction appropriate for the child’s age or state-approved grade levels standards:  oral expression, listening comprehension, written expression, basic reading skill, reading fluency skills, reading comprehension, mathematics calculation, or mathematics problem solving.

2.   The evaluation team shall utilize a process that examines whether a child exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses, relative to intellectual ability as defined by a severe discrepancy between ability and achievement or relative to age or grade.

3.   The evaluation team shall determine that its findings are not primarily a result of a visual, hearing or orthopedic disability, intellectual disability, emotional disturbance, cultural factors, environmental or economic disadvantage, or limited English proficiency.

4.   Finally, the team must ensure that underachievement in a child suspected of having a specific learning disability is not due to lack of appropriate instruction in reading or mathematics by considering documentation that: prior to or as part of the referral process, the child was provided scientifically-based instruction in general education settings, delivered by qualified personnel, as indicated by observations of routine classroom instruction.

The district’s special education plan shall include procedures for identifying and educating students with disabilities and shall be aligned with the Strategic Plan adopted by the Board.

Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for Student with a Disability:

In compliance with applicable state and federal laws the District shall provide a free and appropriate program of specially designed instruction and services to meet the needs of each student who has been determined by a placement team to be exceptional, eligible, and in need of such programming.  The instructional program is to be based on the unique needs of the student.  Each student with a disability who is a resident of the district shall be provided quality education programs and services that meet the student’s needs for educational, instructional, transitional and related services. 

The program to which each student with a disability is assigned shall be one that provides an appropriate education, seeks to assure success in learning, and offers the least restrictive environment, in accordance with state and federal laws.

Related Services for Student with a Disability:

In accordance with state and federal guidelines, the District shall provide related services which are determined by an exceptional child’s individualized education plan (IEP) to be necessary to ensure that the child can access and benefit from his/her program.

Range of Programs and Services for Student with a Disability:

The programs and related services provided by the district shall be adequate in quantity, variety, and range to meet the needs of eligible persons of every exceptionality as defined by state and federal laws.

No student with a disability shall be denied, because of handicap/disability, participation in activities, programs or services offered or recognitions rendered to District students, unless participation is not possible because of handicap/disability as determined on a case-by-case basis.

Facilities:

The district shall determine facilities, programs, services and staff that will be provided for the instruction of students with disabilities in keeping with state and federal requirements.  In order to maintain an effective special education plan, the District may participate in special education programs of Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit No. 5.

Disciplinary Actions for Student with a Disability:

Students with disabilities who engage in inappropriate behavior, disruptive or prohibited activities and/or actions injurious to themselves or others shall be disciplined in accordance with their Individualized Education Program (IEP), behavior support plan, and Board policy.

Disciplinary actions which may or may not lead to the exclusion of an exceptional child from his/her program of instruction, as outlined in his/her individualized educational plan, shall be in keeping with state and federal regulations and protections applicable to exceptional children.  No student with a disability shall be expelled if the student’s particular misconduct is a manifestation of his/her disability. 

Prior to a change in placement or a revision of an individualized educational plan, the IEP team shall consider whether an eligible student’s behavior is attributable to the student’s disability, and, if it is not, whether routine school discipline procedures might be applicable.  A student with a disability may be suspended for ten (10) consecutive and fifteen (15) cumulative days of school per school year, regardless of whether the student’s behavior is a manifestation of his/her disability.  A disciplinary exclusion of an exceptional student for more than the ten (10) consecutive or fifteen (15) cumulative school days in a school year is considered a change in educational placement, requiring prior notice to the parent or guardian, regarding procedural safeguards and their right to a hearing.  The disciplinary exclusion of a student with intellectual disability for any length of time is always considered a change of placement which requires prior notice to the parent or guardian.  Under the direction of the Superintendent, the District shall discipline children in keeping with state and federal requirements.

Students who have not been identified as disabled may be subject to the same disciplinary measures applied to students without disabilities if the district did not have knowledge of the disability.  If a request for evaluation is made during the period the student is subject to disciplinary measures, the evaluation shall be expedited.

A hearing officer may order removal of a student with a disability to an alternative setting for forty-five (45) days where the district demonstrates by substantial evidence that maintaining the student’s current placement is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or others. 

A student with a disability who carries a weapon to school or a school function may be removed from his/her current placement.  The student shall be placed in an appropriate interim alternative educational setting for no more than forty-five (45) days.  For purposes of this provision, weapon is defined as a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury, except that such term does not include a pocket knife with a blade of less than two and one-half (2 ½) inches in length.

A student with a disability who knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs or sells or solicits the sale of a controlled substance while at school or a school function may be removed from his/her current placement.  The student shall be placed in an appropriate interim alternative educational setting for no more than forty-five (45) days.

A student with a disability who has inflicted serious bodily injury upon another person while at school, on school property, or at school functions under the jurisdiction of the District may be removed from his/her current placement.  The student shall be placed in an appropriate interim alternative educational setting for no more than forty-five (45) days.   For purposes of this provision, serious bodily injury means bodily injury which involves a substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ or mental faculty.

The District shall report crimes committed by a student with a disability to the appropriate authorities in the same manner as it reports crimes committed by students without disabilities.

Equal Opportunities and Access for Student with a Disability:

Exceptional children shall have equal access to programs and services offered by the District.  The District shall take appropriate steps to ensure that exceptional children are not harassed or otherwise discouraged from seeking access to the program and services offered by the District.

Public Awareness of Programs for Student with a Disability:

Under the direction of the Superintendent or his/her designee, the District shall conduct public awareness activities to inform the public of available special education programs and services, procedures for requesting these programs and services, screening programs, due process provisions, and an explanation of confidentiality right and protections guaranteed by law.

The district shall maintain procedures and processes that implement special education programs and services, in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations, in the following areas:

1.    Educational plans

2.    Child Find

3.    Assessments

4.    Screening

5.    Evaluation

6.    Reevaluation

7.    Individualized Education Program (IEP)

8.    Extended School Year services (ESY)

9.    Behavior support

10.  Educational placement

11.  Disciplinary placements

12.  Facilities

13.  Early intervention

14.  Procedural safeguards

15.  Confidentiality of information

Adoption Date         -     September 13, 1999      

Revision Date          -     June 28, 2012; October 9, 2023

Review Date            -     February 10, 2014

Legal Reference       -     Public School Code of 1949, Section 1371

                                 -     22 PA Code 14.2, et. seq.

                                 -     22 PA Code 342.1, et. seq.

                                 -     20 U.S. C. § 1400, et. seq.

                                 -     34 CFR Part 300

Cross Reference       -     Policy 7265

Periodically requests are made to attend a District school on a part-time basis. The Superintendent or their designee will establish procedures to approve part-time student enrollment when:

1. The student is between the ages of 18 and 21 (22 for a student with a disability under the IDEA), such that the student is no longer of compulsory attendance age but still has the right to attend school and does not hold a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered or approved high school.

                                                      OR

2. The student is of compulsory attendance age and one of the following is met:

1. The student holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered or approved high school, and the District consents to part-time enrollment.  The District is not required to educate a student that has graduated but can do so at its discretion. 
2. The student is attending college.
3. The student is attending a home education program.   
4. The student is at least 15 years of age, and their enrollment in private trade or business school has been approved. 
5. The student is at least 14 years of age, has completed the highest elementary grade, and is engaged in farm work or private domestic service under duly issued permits. 
6. The student is at least 16 years of age, is regularly employed during the time school is in session and holds a lawfully issued employment certificate. 
7. Part-time enrollment is pursuant to a student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) or Gifted Individualized Educational Plan (GIEP). 
8. The student has a verified medical condition and attendance/enrollment on a part-time basis is recommended by the attending physician (or other duly licensed professional) or is incorporated as a part of the student’s Act 504 Plan.

Adoption Date      -      September 13, 1999

Revision Date       -      August 29, 2022; October 9, 2023

Review Date         -     

Legal Reference    -      24 PS 13-1327, 24 PS 13-1330; 22 Pa. Code 11.11,

                                      22 Pa. Code 11.12

Cross Reference    -      Policy 9335, Policy 10110

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary