Special Education Department
What is Special Education?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires school districts to provide a free appropriate public education to any student that has met disability eligibility standards and whose needs cannot be met in the general education setting without the provisions of special education supports and services in the least restrictive environment.
The term “special education” is defined as “specially designed instruction” to meet the needs of a child with a disability. This instruction can occur in a variety of settings including but not limited to the following: the general education classroom, a special education classroom, at home, and/or in the hospital or private program.
Continuum of Services Explanation
Alcoa’s special education program offers a continuum of services for students that qualify for special education services. The district must ensure that a continuum of placements is available at all times to meet the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related services.
This statement is part of an effort to locate and serve children that may need special education and related services and/or special accommodations. If you know of a child who may qualify and is not receiving available services, please contact Pam Haggard @ 865-982-4631 or via email at: [email protected]
Parents that have children ages 3-5 who have concerns that their child may be in need of special education should contact Pam Haggard @ 865-982-4631 or via email at: [email protected]
Parents who have educational concerns about school age children who attend an Alcoa public school, are being homeschooled, or attend a private school within the Alcoa City jurisdiction can access special education services by contacting the Department of Special Education for more information.
Assessment
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and ESSA require that all students, including those with the most severe disabilities, must be included in state-mandated assessments. The Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) includes alternative assessments available to students with disabilities whom participation in the regular state assessment is inappropriate, even with the use of extensive accommodations.
Restraint and Isolation Policy and Procedures
Purpose:
The purpose of these procedures is to ensure that every student receiving special education services is not subject to unreasonable, unsafe, and unwarranted use of isolation and restraint practices. The goal of Alcoa City Schools is to implement positive behavioral support and intervention to reduce the use of isolation and restraint. Any faculty or staff that uses isolation or restraint must be trained and certified in the district’s chosen method, Certified Restraint Training.
More information can be found here.
Child Find Activities
ACS conducts on-going child find activities in various ways. Alcoa City uses several methods to locate, identify, and evaluate any child suspected of having a disability. Documentation of these activities is on file. These are summarized below:
Each year Child Find statements are placed in our local newspaper, posted on our school website, and on social media pages.
Brochures are distributed throughout the community in various business locations, churches, community centers (MLK Center), Dr.’s offices, Child/Day care centers, and other agencies such as Head Start and TEIS.
Letters are placed in the Homeschool packets for those parents registering for homeschool with Alcoa.
Screening activities are conducted each year in conjunction with our Voluntary Pre-k programs and our Kindergarten programs.
Intervention activities are conducted throughout the schools through the RTI programs that will locate students that may not be progressing as compared to typical peers.
Mary Beth Warwick
Director of Special Education
524 Faraday Street
Alcoa, TN 37701
(865) 984-0531 Ext. 1200