• Special Education Department
                  
    Regina McClure
    Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
     
    The Special Education Department at Penn-Delco School District provides a quality individualized education to students with specific academic, emotional, social and/or physical needs and ensures that all gifted students are provided individualized and challenging educational programs to develop their unique talents and abilities. We believe that all students can learn and provide students with appropriate supports and services to ensure that they remain in their least restrictive environment. Our staff strives to have all students reach their maximum potential academically, socially, and emotionally while learning to be a productive member of their community.
     
    Special Education Department Staff:
     
    Regina McClure
    Director of Pupil Services & Special Education
    (610) 497-6300, ext 1320
     
    Amelia Bell
    Supervisor of Special Education
    (610) 497-6300, ext 1333
     
    Mike McCormick
    Special Education Liaison
    610-497-6300, ext 1321
     
    Sarah McHugh
    School Psychologist
    Parkside Elementary
    Pennell Elementary
    610-497-6300, ext 7312
     
    Rose Carroll
    School Psychologist
    Coebourn Elementary
    Sun Valley High School
    610-497-6300, ext 2368
     
    Audrey McKenney
    School Psychologist
    Aston Elementary
    610-497-6300, ext 1825
     
    TBD
    School Psychologist
    Northley Middle School
    610-497-6300, ext 3362
     
     
    Click here to view the Parent Guide to Special Education.
     
    Click here to access the Parent Guide To Special Education for Gifted Students.
     
    Click here for parent training opportunities.
     
    Click here to access the PA Department of Education's Special Education web page.
     
    The U.S. Congress enacted the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to assure that all children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education designed to meet their unique needs in the least restrictive environment. In accordance with this law, the Penn-Delco School District provides, without cost to parents, screenings and evaluations, appropriate programs and services to all students thought to be exceptional and in need of specially designed instruction.

    Types of Services Available

    Once a student has been identified as eligible for special education and related services, an IEP team of people knowledgeable about the student, including you, will decide what kinds of programs and services are appropriate based on your child’s unique learning needs. Eligible students are entitled to specially designed instruction that is: (1) conducted in the classroom, in the home, in community settings, in hospitals, in institutions, and in other settings, and (2) provided in an instructional or skill area. Related services are transportation and developmental, corrective, and other supportive services to assist the student to benefit from special education.

    If you believe your child may be eligible

    Contact your child's school to discuss your concerns. You may ask to speak to the school psychologist at any time or write a letter to Regina McClure, Director of Special Education & Pupil Services, stating your reason for concern. Discussion may follow to assist us in understanding your request and child's needs. If after discussion, you believe your child may have a disability and would like to pursue the evaluation process, we will issue a "Permission to Evaluate." This form will allow us to begin the evaluation process which may consist of, yet not be limited to: review of records, intelligence testing, achievement test, parent input and teacher input.

    Parent-initiated screenings and evaluations should be requested in writing to the school district address as listed. Services are provided to the full range of exceptionalities listed below and may be provided at various locations with the home school being given first consideration. Programs may include the services of other professionals beyond the classroom teacher.

    The purpose of these procedures is to identify children with disabilities in order to provide them with a free appropriate public education. These procedures include: parent referrals, teacher referrals, group and individual screenings by grade level. Information about children with disabilities is collected and maintained by each school district and by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit.

    Parents who have concerns about the development of their three to five-year-old child can call the Delaware County Intermediate Unit Early Intervention Office at (610) 938-9300, ext. 6141 to request a screening or an evaluation. Screening and evaluation appointments with qualified special education professionals are offered monthly at several sites in Delaware County. Exact times, dates and locations will be provided to the caller. Services which are available to children who qualify include: special education classrooms and consultation, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision and hearing services.

    The Process

    Your child will be evaluated and you will receive an Evaluation Report (ER) within sixty (60) calendar days after we have received a signed Permission to Evaluate (PTE) - Consent Form.  The 60 calendar day timeline does not include the summer break.  After this, you will be invited to attend a meeting to determine if your child is eligible for special education services and if so to develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP meeting must be scheduled within 30 calendar days of dissemination of the ER.

    If your child is identified as exceptional

    The Penn-Delco School District provides the programming and services required for each exceptional child. The programs and services will be developed based on each child's exceptionality and the need for special education and related services. The terms and procedures we use to determine if any particular child has such a need is defined by IDEA and state regulations. These programs and services are made available to children who meet the qualifications for one of the following Exceptionality Categories Under IDEA:

    1. Mental retardation
    2. Hearing impairments or deafness
    3. Speech / language impairment
    4. Visual impairments
    5. Emotional disturbance
    6. Physical disability
    7. Autism
    8. Traumatic brain injury
    9. Other health impairment
    10. Specific learning disability
    11. Mentally gifted
    What if my child is not found exceptional?

    It is possible that your child, while having an obvious disability, will not meet the definitions established by IDEA or the Pennsylvania regulations. For example, your child might be diabetic or asthmatic, but not reflect this disability in his or her educational performance.

    Programs and services may also be available to otherwise disabled students under Chapter 15 of the Pennsylvania School Code. This chapter offers services to the disabled who do not meet the need for specialized education instruction.

    In these situations, we will try to determine if we can provide the programming and services your child needs within the nondiscriminatory mandate established by §504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("§504"). Section 504 bars discrimination in the provision of any programs and services by any organization receiving funds from the U. S. Department of Education, among other things. The law protects all "handicapped" persons, does not require that the "handicap" affect performance and, with regard to education, confers many - but not all - of the protections spelled out in IDEA's procedural safeguards. Please contact your child's principal if you believe this is the case.