Evaluation Services

Students who demonstrate learning, behavioral, emotional, and other needs that impede academic progress can be evaluated to determine if they are eligible for and in need of special education services. The school district psychologists are members of evaluation teams who administer psycho-educational assessments to help determine the strengths and needs of individual students. Parents, teachers and other professionals also give input to all educational decisions regarding students. Following the evaluation, all members of the team receive an evaluation report and are invited to participate in a meeting to develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) if deemed appropriate based on evaluation findings.

Re-Evaluation Process (for students who previously qualified for an IEP):

Depending on your child’s classification, a reevaluation is conducted on a two or three year cycle. A reevaluation is completed to determine whether your child still has a disability and needs to continue receiving special education services. During this process, the IEP team utilizes one of the two processes below:

A review of the current information already available to determine your child’s progress.

This includes IEPs, progress reports, report cards, attendance, behavior, and assessment data including statewide, local, and classroom assessments. This option does not include any additional testing or assessments as the team has sufficient information to identify your child’s strengths and needs in order to make recommendations for the upcoming program planning and Individual Education Plan (IEP).

OR

A review of the current information AND conducting additional assessments/evaluations to determine progress and/or to consider if there are additional educational needs or concerns which should be addressed in the upcoming program planning and Individual Education Plan (IEP).

The Sayre Area School District is committed to delivering a full continuum of special education services. The district employs certified special education teachers, as well as personal care and instructional support paraprofessionals. The district has one full-time speech therapist and one full-time occupational therapist. The district contracts for physical therapy services. We also contract with BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 for vision services, educational audiology, orientation and mobility, the Autistic Support classrooms, as well as specialized training.

In compliance with state and federal law, notice is hereby given by the Sayre Area School District that it conducts ongoing identification activities as a part of its school program for the purpose of identifying students who may be in need of special education and related services. If your child is identified by the District as in need of such services, you will be notified of applicable procedures. These services and the transportation to them are paid for by the school district. Services and programs are available for children who are determined to need specially designed instruction due to the following conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Blindness/Visual, Impairment, Deafness/Hearing Impairment, Deafness/Blindness, Emotional Disturbance, Intellectual Developmental Disorder, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech and Language Impairment, and Traumatic Brain Injury.
If you believe that your school-age child may be in need of special education services and related programs, screening and evaluation processes designed to assess the needs of the child and his/her eligibility are available to you at no cost, upon written request. Families can find the Annual Public Notice on our district website under Special Education & Student Services.
Requests for Multidisciplinary Evaluation and screening are to be made in writing to the Director of Student Services, 333 W Lockhart St, Sayre, PA 18840. Communication with parents or guardians is in English and, if necessary, in the native language or other mode of communication used by the parents or student.
Students who are not determined to be eligible for special education, but who are in need of modifications due to a disability, which substantially limits life activities and adversely affects educational performance, may be entitled to protection under a 504 Service Agreement. Families can review this process with the Director of Student Services.

If you have questions or concerns involving your child’s education and how the special education process functions or any student service related questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Tricia Tietjen, Director of Student Services, via phone at 570-888-4892 or by email at ttietjen@sayresd.org.

Sayre Area School District

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