Special Education Services

Each school system has a continuum of special education services which may include but not be limited to:

• Monitoring
• Speech and Language Services
• Resource Room Programs
• Consultation Services
• Self Contained Programs

Supportive services to assist students with their educational program may include but not be limited to:

• Speech and Language Services
• Physical Therapy Services (P.T.)
• Occupational Therapy Services (O.T.)
• Psychological Services

The Special Education Process

The Special education process for which school units are responsible has several components. In brief, the process includes a screening of all students to determine which students may have disabilities that would require referral to a Pupil Evaluation Team (P.E.T.). A second phase includes more individualized evaluations of each referred student and a discussion of the evaluative and other data by the P.E.T. composed of school staff and parents. Other persons who may have knowledge of the student may be invited to attend the P.E.T. meeting at which it is determined that the student:

1. Possesses a disability as defined by Maine Special Education Regulations

2. Has a disability that adversely affects his/her educational performance, and

3. Has a disability that requires the provision of special education services in order that the student may benefit from an elementary or secondary educational program.

Once these determinations are made, the P.E.T. shall write an Individualized Educational Program (I.E.P.) for the student.

The provisions of a free appropriate public education (F.A.P.E.) and the placement of the student shall be made according to the provisions of the I.E.P. The I.E.P. shall be developed and placement shall be made in accordance with the principle of 'least restrictive environment'; i.e., placement as near to regular education as possible within the continuum of educational alternatives.

The special education process affords special rights to students with disabilities through 'due process' protections. Most important, a parent must be notified of the I.E.P. prepared for the student and to the placement which it proposes. If the parent does not agree with the proposed program and/or placement, an appeal may be taken to an impartial State level hearing officer who will hold a hearing on the matter and make a determination as to the student's education. A copy of the Maine Special Education Regulations (Chapter 101) may be obtained from the Department of Education, State House Station #23, Augusta, ME 04333.

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