FAQ for Special Education Enrollment 2012-2013

Q.How do the new Service Model names relate to previous Special Education Programs and Services?

A. See the attached Location of Services chart for clarification on Special Education Program Name to Service Model conversion. Services provided through Service Models, similarly to the previously named Special Education Programs, are not based on specific disability categories rather on intensity of service needs; including staff to student ratio and programmatic/instructional supports.

Q:Will elementary school students have an automatic assignment to a linked school?

A: No, automatic linked schools are for middle and high schools only. Elementary school students will be assigned within or near their middle school service area based on their service model and program capacity.

Q: Will students rising into 6 th grade and 9 th grade be automatically assigned to the appropriate linked school?

A: Yes. The linked school assignment is based on the middle or high school attendance area where the student lives and the special education service model.

Q: Will students already in middle and high school, outside of their attendance area have a continued assignment?

A: Yes. Their current school assignment will continue.

Q: Will students already in middle and high school, outside of their attendance area have the opportunity to apply to the identified “linked school”?

A: Yes. You may submit a Open Enrollment application for your student to any option school that offers the appropriate Service Model. Standard “tiebreakers” apply. More information is available on the district website - choose “Schools” then “Enrollment” for more information. Applications received during Open Enrollment (February 27 – March 9, 2012) is the best time to apply. Applications submitted at any time during Open Enrollment are processed first.

Q: At Middle and High School, all programs formerly known as “inclusion (serving students with mild-moderate disabilities)” and “autism self-contained (serving students with moderate to severe disabilities)” are currently identified as Service Model 4 (SM4). Some of the linked schools have a cohort of students with “inclusion” services and a cohort of students with “self- contained” services. Does an SM4 assignment to a linked school mean that the SM4 services will be a mixed cohort of students with mild to moderate and moderate to severe disabilities in the same class with the same services?

A: The initial assignment letter is based on the linked school (regardless of the cohort of students served at the school). The special education department will review each 6 th grade and 9 th grade SM4 assignment to ensure that there is not a mixed cohort of students. For the few students who are assigned to a school that is providing services to a different cohort of students, the families will be contacted by the Special Education Department and offered a Guaranteed Choice Assignment to a school within or nearby the middle school service area.

Q: Will my student’s seat at the Guaranteed Choice Assignment be available beyond the Open Enrollment (February 27 – March 9, 2012) time frame?

A: No. The Guaranteed Choice Assignment is only available during Open Enrollment. Special Education Supervisors have contact families providing information on the available Guaranteed Choice Assignment and families will need to respond in writing if they are requesting the Guaranteed Choice Assignment for their student.

Q. My student requires Therapy (Speech and Language, Occupation/Physical, Motor and Orientation Mobility, etc.) or full time Nursing services during the day. Will they be able to get this at their linked school?

A. Most schools can provide all required therapy and a number of schools have a full time nurse. However, if a school doesn’t have the appropriate equipment or nursing services, the student would be reassigned to a school that can appropriately support their therapy needs.

Option Schools

Q: There are three option High Schools with a higher level of service; NOVA (SM4), Cleveland (SM2, SM4) and The Center School (SM4). They are not linked schools, will these service models continue?

A Although, these three options schools are not linked schools, they will continue to offer the services currently available. You may submit a School Choice application for your student to any option school that offers the appropriate Service Model. Standard “tiebreakers” apply. More information is available on the district website - choose “Schools” then “Enrollment” for more information. Applications received during Open Enrollment (February 27 – March 9, 2012) is the best time to apply. Applications submitted at any time during Open Enrollment are processed first.

Q There are two option K-8 Schools with a higher level of service at Middle School; South Shore (SM3) and Salmon Bay (SM4). They are not linked schools, will these service models continue?

A. Although, these two options schools are not linked schools, they will continue to offer the services currently available. You may submit a School Choice application for your student to any option school that offers the appropriate Service Model. Standard “tiebreakers” apply. More information is available on the district website - choose “Schools” then “Enrollment” for more information. Applications received during Open Enrollment (February 27 – March 9, 2012) is the best time to apply. Applications submitted at any time during Open Enrollment are processed first.