Notice of Special Educational Services
The Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School provides special education and related services to resident children with disabilities who are ages three through twenty-one. The purpose of this notice is to describe (1) the types of disabilities that might qualify the child for such programs and services, (2) the special education programs and related services that are available, (3) the process by which the public school screen and evaluate such students to determine eligibility, and (4) the special rights that pertain to such children and their parents or legal guardians.
What types of disablility might qualify a child for special education and related services?
Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or "IDEA", children qualify for special education and related services if they have one or more of the following disabilities and , as a result, need such services: (1) mental retardation; (2) hearing impairments, including deafness; (3) speech or language impairments; (4) visual impairments, including blindness; (5) serious emotional disturbance; (6) orthopedic impairments, or physical disabliites; (7) autism, including pervasive developmental disorders; (8) traumatic brain injury, or neurological impairment; (9) other health impairment; (10) specific learning disablilities. Children with more than one of the foregoing disabilities could qualify for special education and related services as having multiple disabilities.
The legal definitions of these disabilities, which the public schools are required to apply under the IDEA, may differ from medical or clinical criteria. The legal definitions, moreover, could apply to children with disabilities that have very different medical or clinical disorders. A child with attention deficit hyperactivitiy disorder, for example, could qualify for special education and related services as a child with "other health impairments," "serious emotional disturbance," or "specific learning disabilities" if the child meets the eligibility criteria under one or more of these disability categories and if the child needs special education and relates services as a result.
Under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, some school age children with disabilities who do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above might nevertheless be eligible for special protections and for adaptations and accommodations in instruction, facilities, and activities. Children are entitled to such protections, adaptations, and accommodations if they have mental or physical disability that substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program.
The public school, in conjunction with the parents, determines the type and intensity of special education and related services that a particular child needs based exclusively on the unique program of special education and related services that the school develops for that child. The child's program is described in writing in an individualized education program, or "IEP," which is developed by an IEP team consisting of educators, parents, and other persons with special expertise or familiarity with the child. The parents of the child have the right to be notified of and to participate in all meetings of their child's IEP team. The IEP is revised as often as circumstances warrant but at least annually. The law requires that the program and placement of the child, as described in the IEP, be reasonably calculated to ensure meaningful educational progress to the student at all times. IEP contain, at a minimum, a statement of present levels of educational performance, an enumeration of the annual goals and short-term objectives or benchmarks established for the child, and a statement of the special education and related services that the child needs to make meaningful education progress. For children aged sixteen and older, the IEP must also include a transition plan to assist in the attainment of post-secondary objectives. The public school must invite the child to the IEP team meeting at which the transition plan is developed.
How do the public schools screen and evaluate children to determine eligibility for special education and relate services.
The public schools must conduct a multidisiplinary team evaluation for every child who is thought to have a disability. The multidisciplinary team is a group of professionals who are trained in and experienced with the testing, assessment, and observation of children to determine whether they disabilities and, if so, to identify their primary educational strengths and needs. Parents are members of the multidisciplinary team.
Parents may request a multidisciplinary team evaluation of their children at any time. They must do so in writing. Every public school has a procedure in place by which parents can request an evaluation. For information about the procedures that apply to the Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School, contact Mrs. Sherri Holler, 1133 Village Way, Latrobe, PA 15650. The telephone number for Mrs. Holler is (724) 537-9110.
While some services might be available to some private school children fund eligible by public school multidisciplinary teams, the public schools are not required to provide all or any of the special education required by state law. Other Level 2 screenings occur as concerns arise about individual children. Level 3 IST activities occur when IST intervention is requested by the child's teacher, parents, or other concerned school personnel.
For information about the dates of various screening activities, contact the Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School directly.
What special rights and protections do children with disabilities and their parents have?
State and federal law affords many right and protections to children with disabilities and their parents. A summary of those rights and protections follows. Interested persons may obtain a complete written summary of the rights and protections afforded by the law, together with information about free or low cost legal services and advice, by contacting the special education or services department of the school district in which they reside at the address and telephone number listed at the end of this notice, or through the principal of the local public school at the address and telephone number listed in the blue pages section of the telephone book under the heading "School." The written summary is also available through the Dr. Robert Ketterer School, 1133 Village Way, Latrobe, PA 15650; telephone number (724) 537-9110.
Rights and Protections
Notice: The public school must notify you in writing whenever it proposes to initiate or to change substantially the identification, evaluation, educational program, or placement of a child or whenever it refuses to initiate or make a change in identification, evaluation, education program, or placement requested by a parent. Such notice must be accompanied by a full written description of the parents' rights.
Consent: The public school cannot proceed with an evaluation or reevaluation, or with the initial provision of special education and related services, without the written consent of the parents.
Mediation and Pre-hearing Conferences: Without prejudice to the right to a hearing as outlined above, parents and public school officials can agree to mediate or attempt to resolve amicably through a pre-hearing conference any or all of the issues between them. Information concerning mediation can be obtained from, and requests for mediation can be addressed to, the Pennsylvania Special Education Mediation Service, Box 130 Mar Lin, PA 17951; telephone number (800) 992-4334.
Maintenance of Placement: During any dispute between the public school and the parents, the public school must maintain the child in the then-current educational placement. This "stay put" rule does not apply to programs and placements in private schools that are not the recommended placement of the public school, and to exclusions from school for possession or use of an illegal substance or for possession of a weapon when the public school is proposing an alternative school placement for up to forty-five days.
Attorney's Fees and Costs: When parents prevail in a due process hearing, or obtain a favorable settlement of a claim as a result of a hearing request, they may recover from the public school reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in the pursuit of the hearing. Fees and costs are not available for the attendance of the attorney at IEP team meetings unless a hearing officer or judge orders the meeting. Parents who fail to provide written notice to the public school at least ten days before the due process hearing of the problems or concerns that they have with the actions or inaction of the public school, the specific facts that support their problems or concerns, and their proposed resolution, of any, can be denied some or all of their claims or fees and costs.
Private School Tuition Reimbursement: In some cases, parents of children who were identified by public school as eligible for special education and related services and who recieved such services can recover in due process hearing or from a court an award of private school tuition reimbursement when they can prove (1) that the public school failed to offer an appropriate program or placement to the child, (2) that the parents therefore placed their child in a private school, and (3) that the private school placement was proper. Tuition reimbursement awards can be denied or reduced if the parents' behavior was improper or if the parents delay unreasonably in asserting a claim against the public school in a due process hearing. Such awards can also be denied or reduced if the parents fail either (1) to notify the public school of their intent to place the child in a private school at least ten days before withdrawing the student for that purpose.
Student Records
The Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School maintains records concerning all children enrolled in public school, including students with disabilities. Records containing personally identifiable information about or related to children with disabilities could include, but are not limited to: report cards, IEP's, Comprehensive Evaluation Reports, discipline records; psychological reports, and psychiatric reports.
After reviewing records, parents may ask the public school to change any information that they believe is inaccurate or misleading or violates the child's privacy rights. The school will make the requested changes or reject the request within forty-five days of the receipt of the request in writing. If the school rejects the request, the parent may request an informal hearing. The hearing can be held before any public school official who does not have a direct interest in its outcome. If the parents are dissatisfied with the outcome of the informal hearing, they may submit to the public school a statement outlining their disagreement with the record. The school therafter must attach a copy of that statement to all copies of the record disclosed to third parties.
Parent consent is required in writing prior to the release of any personally identifiable information concerning a child with disabilities. Parent consent is not required, however, prior to the release of information (1) to a hearing office in a special education due process hearing; (2) to public school staff and contractors with a legitimate educational interest in the information, including teachers of the child, building administrators, guidance counselors to whom the child is assigned, members of instructional support and multidisciplinary teams in the course of screening and evaluation activities, records custodians and clerks, public school administrators with responsibilitiy for programs in which the student is enrolled or intends to be enrolled, school board members sitting in executive session in consideration of matters concerning the child upon which only the school board can act, program specialists and instructional aids working with the child, therapeutic staff working with the child, and substiutes for any fo the foregoing persons; (3) to officials or staff of other schools and school systems at which the student is enrolled or intends to enroll; (4) to federal or state education officials and agencies and to the Comptroller of the United States; (5) to accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions; (6) emergency to the extent necessary to protect the health and safety of the child or other or (8) that the public schools have designated as "directory information." Disclosure without consent of the parent is subject to certain conditions more fully described in the Family Educational Right and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 1332g, and its implementing regulations, 34 C.F.R Part 99.
The Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School has designated the following as "director information": (1) the name, address, and telephone number of the child; (2) the date and place of birth of the child; (3) participation in school clubs and extracurricular activities; (4) weight and height of members of athletic teams; (5) dates of attendance; (6) diplomas and awards received; (7) the most recent previous institution or school attended by the child; and (8) names of parents, siblings, and other family members. The parent of an actively enrolled public school student may, within thirty days of the publication of this notice, request in writing that information here designated, as directory not be disclosed without parental consent. If the public school does not receive such request within this time, it will assume that it may release such information without consent. Written notice must be received at the local public school at the address listed below.
Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School, Inc.
1133 Village Way
Latrobe, PA 15601
(724) 537-9110
 
Public Notice

In compliance with Federal law, Dr. Robert Ketterer Charter School 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 equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extra-curricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student's abilities. 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 accesss to an aspect of the school program.

These services and protections for "protected handicapped students" are distinct from those applicable to alleligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

For further information on the evaluation procedures and provisions to protected handicapped students, please contact the Special Education Supervisor at 724-539-9110.