Special Programs
Allan Fleck, Director
4855 Evergreen Way, Washougal, WA 98671
Phone: 360-954-3020 Fax: 360-835-5874
Child Find Notice
Washougal School District is committed to addressing the unique needs of students with disabilities ages birth through 21 residing within the boundaries of the district. This includes children with disabilities enrolled in private and religious schools as well as children who are homeless. Disabilities can be in any one of several areas that ultimately affect a child's learning, such as the ability to think, to express oneself, to see or hear clearly, to get around, or understand instructions. If you have a child who you think might have a disability requiring special education instruction or significant accommodations at school, or if you know of such a child, please feel free to call the Washougal School District Special Services Office, (360) 954-3020.
Special Education
Washougal School District provides services to students with disabilities that are specified in state and federal laws. Services are free of charge to the parent. Anybody may refer a student for an evaluation to determine if the student qualifies for services. The referral needs to be in writing (unless you are unable to write) and directed to the student's principal. If you suspect that your child has a disability and your child is not currently enrolled in the school district, you may direct the referral to the Special Services Department.
Eligibility for special education services requires that we conduct an evaluation. The results of the evaluation must demonstrate that the child has a disability as defined in Chapter 392-172A of the Washington Administrative Code AND that the disability has a negative effect on the child making progress in the general education setting AND the require specialized instruction. If the child is of preschool age, assessment results need to document that the child scores significantly below same-aged peers in developmentally appropriate activities like adaptive behavior, communication, motor, cognition and behavior.
Eligible children/students receive services that meet their individual needs. These services are outlined in an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) that school staff and parents jointly develop.
There are many legal rules and regulations that determine what happens in special education. They are outlined in WAC 392-171A and are written in legal language. Further information may be obtained by reviewing the district’s policy and procedures regarding special education, by contacting Washougal School District’s Special Services Department at 954-3020, or by contacting the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
District-wide Special Education Services
Washougal School District is dedicated to meeting the needs of all children. The Special Education Department services children with disabilities, birth through age 3 are served via ESD 112. Programs are developed on an individualized basis, determined by the individual needs of each student.
Staff serving students:
Special Education Teachers
Speech / Language Pathologists
Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist
School Psychologists
Instructional Assistants
Special Education Techs
Vision Specialist - through Washington School For the Blind
Registered Nurse - through Educational Service District 112
Title 1
Title I, Part A provides financial assistance to states and school districts to meet the needs of educationally at-risk students. The goal of Title I is to provide extra instructional services and activities which support students identified as failing or most at risk of failing the state’s challenging performance standards in mathematics, reading, and writing.
Title 1 Schools:
• Identify the students at their school who need the most educational
assistance based on the criteria that school has chosen. Students
do NOT have to be from low-income families to receive Title I
services.
• Set goals for improving the skills of educationally disadvantaged
students at their school.
• Measure student progress to determine the success of the Title I
program for each student.
• Develop programs for each individual student in order to
support/supplement regular classroom instruction.
Title 1 Programs generally offer:
• Smaller classes or special instructional spaces
• Additional teachers and aides
• Opportunities for professional development for school
staff
• Extra time for teaching Title I students the skills they need
• A variety of supplementary teaching methods
• An individualized program for students
• Additional teaching materials which supplement a student’s regular
instruction
Under the No Child Left Behind Act, what does a parent have the right to know?
Under this act, parents of children in schools that receive Title I dollars have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers including, at a minimum, the following:
• Whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject area in which the teacher provides instruction.
• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
• The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher, any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
• Timely notice that the parents’ child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher of a core academic subject who is not highly qualified.
• Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals, and if so, their qualifications.
As part of the “No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002” school districts are required to notify parents/guardians when schools, that their children attend, have been categorized in “school improvement” for not making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years. AYP is the level of proficiency that schools must achieve on an annual basis. It is determined by criteria that include a benchmark of proficiency of all students in reading and math along with a required level of participation on WASL assessments, and required percentages of unexcused absences and graduation rates. Percentages are calculated across categories that include student ethnicity, special education, English Language Learners and socioeconomic status. Districts are required to inform you of options available when your child’s school does not make AYP.
Washougal School District currently provides Title 1 funds to two schools: Hathaway Elementary School and Jemtegaard Middle School. Both schools are in school improvement.
Hathaway Elementary School
Hathaway
provides services to students under the umbrella of a school-wide building. Essentially, school-wide programs have great latitude to determine how to organize their operations and allocate the multiple funding sources available to them. They do not have to identify particular children as eligible for services or separately track federal dollars. Instead, school-wide programs can use all allocated funds to increase the amount and quality of learning time. In this way, they can embrace a high-quality curriculum, according to a comprehensive plan that ensures all children meet the state's challenging academic standards.
As a result of not making adequate yearly progress (AYP) per No Child Left Behind for two consecutive years, parents of students attending Hathaway may choose the following option:
Public School Choice
Parents have the option of transferring their child to another elementary school within our district that has not been identified for NCLB school improvement. In Washougal School District, Gause Elementary School and Cape Horn-Skye Elementary School have met AYP requirements. The percentage of students meeting state standards as per spring 2011 State testing at all elementary schools are as follows:
HATHAWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Hathaway |
||||
Grade |
Reading |
Math |
||
3rd |
66.1% |
66.1% |
||
4th |
63.8% |
50.7% |
||
5th |
68.5% |
46.6% |
||
Gause |
||||
Grade |
Reading |
Math |
||
3rd |
75.8% |
65.9% |
||
4th |
85.5% |
78.3% |
||
5th |
80.6% |
72.8% |
||
Cape Horn-Skye |
||||
Grade |
Reading |
Math |
||
3rd |
83.6% |
64.2% |
||
4th |
77.6% |
74.1% |
||
5th |
61.9% |
46.4% |
||
If you elect the school choice option, the district will choose which of the two elementary schools to place your child in. The district will provide transportation. You may exercise this option by going to the district office for a boundary exception form or by calling 954-3005 to have a form mailed to you. The completed form must be returned to the district office by August 25, 2011 in order to exercise this option. If you choose to transfer, do know your child is always welcome back at Hathaway and may return at any time.
During the 2009-2010 school year, approximately 368 students were eligible for this option. 13 utilized this option.
During the 2010-2011 school year, approximately 389 students were eligible for this option. 9 utilized this option.
During the 2011-2012 school year, approximately 380 students were eligible for this option. 5 utilized this option.
Jemtegaard Middle School
Jemtegaard, like Hathaway Elementary,
provides services under the umbrella of a school-wide program. Jemtegaard met AYP requirements in all areas as per the results of Spring 2011 State testing results. However, as a result of not making adequate yearly progress (AYP) for two consecutive years per No Child Left Behind, parents of students attending Jemtegaard may choose one of the following options:
Public School Choice
have the option of transferring their child to another middle school within our district that has not been identified for NCLB school improvement. In Washougal School District, this option is Canyon Creek Middle School. The district was initially notified in mid-August by OSPI that Canyon Creek Middle School had not met AYP for 2 consecutive years and was in school improvement. Thus, letters mailed on August 12, 2011 stipulated that there was no school choice option. The district was again notified in early September by OSPI that Canyon Creek Middle School was not in school improvement and that school choice was, in fact, an option.
Canyon Creek Middle School |
||||
Grade |
Reading |
Math |
||
6th |
69.3% |
46.6% |
||
7th |
54.6% |
47.4% |
||
8th |
73.8% |
60.0% |
||
Jemtegaard Middle School
|
||||
Grade |
Reading |
Math |
||
6th |
76.4% |
61.8% |
||
7th |
47.5% |
48.9% |
||
8th |
74.3% |
56.3% |
||
If you elect the school choice option, the district will provide transportation to Canyon Creek Middle School. You may exercise the option by going to the district office for a boundary exception form or by calling 954-3005 to have a form mailed to you. If you choose to transfer, do know your child is always welcome back at Jemtegaard and may return at any time.
During the 2010-2011 school year, approximately 472 students were eligible for this option. Six utilized this option.
During the 2011-2012 school year, approximately 439 students were eligible for this option. Zero utilized this option.
Supplemental Educational Services
If you choose to keep your child at Jemtegaard Middle School, you may be eligible to receive free tutoring through Supplemental Educational Services (SES). Only students who qualify for free and/or reduced lunch are eligible for this option. This extra help is provided to your child in reading, language arts, and/or math. The extra help can be provided before or after school, on weekends, during school vacation times, or during summer. This is at no cost to you.
SES providers are approved by the Title I department at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). OSPI provides a comprehensive list of local area and state-wide SES providers on their website. This information can be obtained at:
http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleI/TitleI/SES-Parents.aspx
Additional information regarding these providers can be obtained from the special services department at 954-3020.
The district provided direct mailing outlining SES services and the request forms for SES to all parents on August 12, 2011. The enrollment window closed on October 1, 2011. Of the approximately 223 eligible to receive SES services 43 students have applied.
The second enrollment window for SES services will run from October 31, 2011 through November 30, 2011. Of the approximately 180 eligible to receive SES services, ten students were enrolled for services. Thus, a total of 53 students enrolled for SES services at Jemtegaard Middle School this school year.
If you do not have a form and want to request SES services, please contact Jemtegaard Middle School during one of the enrollment windows.
After the form requesting SES is returned to the school, a district employee will contact you. You will then work directly with your chosen provider to set a date to start services for your child and to set-up a service schedule. Services are paid for your child by Title I dollars set-aside by the district. Transportation may be required to the SES provider. This is the parent’s responsibility, as the district is not allowed to pay for this out of the Title I SES funds. The district will then enter into a contract with the provider on your child’s behalf.
LAP, Learning Assistance Program, is a state-funded program to serve students with the greatest deficits in academic basic skills as identified by statewide assessments. Basic skills include reading, writing, mathematics and readiness associated with those skills.
Basic skills include reading, writing, mathematics and readiness associated with those skills
Transitional Bilingual Instructional Program (TBIP) (ELL - English Language Learners)
The main goal of the Transitional Bilingual Instructional Program is to develop English language proficiency while maintaining academics at grade level.
Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law. Specifically, it address that any entity (i.e. school district) receiving federal funding must ensure that it does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. Under the protection of section 504, the school district must ensure that a student has equal access to education, (i.e. that his/her disability does not keep him/her from being able to access education).
School Nurse Services
School nurses are a vital part of the Special Services Department. Nurses plan for individual health needs for students when those needs impact their education and their educational programs. Information on nurse services can be found under the Teaching and Learning Menu above.