Every child in Pickens County has a right to a free, appropriate public education (FAFE). However, some students have disabilities that make it difficult for them to learn in the general public school program without special education services. The Pickens County School District assures the public that all students with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 will have appropriate programs of instruction and related services designed to meet their individual needs.

What is Special Education?

Federal regulations define Special Education as specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of the child with a disability. Specially Designed Instruction means appropriate adaptation of content, methodology, or delivery of instruction. In turn, related services are provided to assist students to benefit from their specially designed program. Students who are identified as having one of the specific disability exceptionalities as determined by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team are eligible for special education and related services. The Individualized Education Act (IDEA) requires that the disability adversely affect a child’s performance at school.

The Referral Process

The Student Support Team (SST) is a general education initiative and acts as a pre-referral process before a referral to special education is made. A Student Support Team is in place at each school and is composed of pertinent staff members who meet to review their concerns and plan strategies to assist particular students in their general education classrooms and monitor those students’ progress. Parents are a part of this team and have to give consent before any student is evaluated for special education services. The Pickens County Special Education Department is working with each school to make the Referral Process from SST more timely.

Least Restrictive Environment

Of all the terminology relating to special education, least restrictive environment (LRE) is probably the most difficult to understand. LRE means that when the IEP Team is deciding where a student should receive his or her special education services, the IEP Team should first consider the general education classroom with supplementary aids and services first and the proceed from there. Students with disabilities have a legal right to the greatest amount of inclusion, which is appropriate to their unique needs.

Due Process

Due Process under special education is a term used for a legal procedure that seeks to ensure the rights of parents if they believe the district has denied their child special education service. Parents or the School System can initiate due process when there is disagreement regarding a child’s identification, evaluation, eligibility, IEP or placement.

Mediation

Mediation is a process provides a means by which the parents and school officials can resolve problems through consensus. It is an informal discussion between parents, school officials, and an impartial third party. Either parents or school officials can initiate mediation. Parents and school officials may or may not choose to have an attorney present.

Special Education Office

Features:

The Preschool Special Education Program is located at the Head Start Center located at Tate, Georgia. Melissa McEntyre, Preschool Teacher, coordinates the program and can be reached at (770) 893-8727. Pickens County Schools ensures that preschool children with disabilities are getting timely and appropriate services in the least restrictive environment and that these services are coordinated with state and local agencies.