The McKeesport Area School District provides Special Education Services to approximately 1000 students.  The District maintains working relationships with a variety of community agencies to ensure collaborative efforts of developing individualized and appropriate programming for students.  The District frequently contract with The Allegheny Intermediate Unit and various private schools to assist with providing educational services to students who may present with more extensive needs.

Contracted services include:
     Hearing Impaired Services
     Visually Impaired Services

Due Process
Parents have the right to participate in all testing and placements procedures.  A detailed list of all procedures will be made available upon request.

Range of Services:
The McKeesport Area School District provides a wide range of services to students with special needs.  It is the District's desire to ensure that all identified students are educated in the least restrictive environment.  The placement of all students are assessed by team process when determining the level of services a student may need.  All buildings are staffed with an Inclusion Support Specialist to assist students who remain fully included within the regular education setting.  The District is committed to providing educational services that are appropriate for each student and in compliance with all regulations set forth in both Chapter 14 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Identifying Students:
To identify students who may be eligible for special education, various screening activities are conducted on an on-going basis.  These screening activities include:
     Review of group based data
     Cumulative Records
     Enrollment Records
     Health Records
     Report Cards
     Ability and Achievement Test Scores
     Hearing, Vision, Physical and Speech/Language Screening
     Review by the Instructional support teams.
Screening activities are conducted upon requests made, in writing, by parents and teachers.  Before screening begins, the District seeks parental consent to conduct a multi-disciplinary evaluation.  Parents who believe their child is exceptional may request a multi-disciplinary evaluation at any time through a written request to the building principal.

Bridge to Adult Life - Transition Program:
The program, Bridge to Adult Life, provides a vocational occupational experience for young people with disabilities.  It is a result of state and federal law requiring school districts to transition Special Education students from school to work and is coordinated by a Transition Team.  Transition planning requires a new way of looking at students and their educational program, by requiring a comprehensive portrait of a student and a long term vision of the student as an adult.

Students in the Bridge to Adult Life Transition Program participate in vocational occupational experiences in the community taking part in work-related activities throughout the school year.  Students receive this training by volunteering at a community site along with a professional or paraprofessional Job Coach to learn work skills and work ethics.  This is strictly on-the-job work experience with no pay involved.   Special Education students may remain in school until they are twenty-one years of age.

Life Skills Support students began an entrepreneurship program focusing on business activities, such as making and selling projects, banking skills, record keeping, inventory skills, and work ethics.  Profits are reinvested to make additional projects and are used to fund community activities for these students.

Students at the high school level have a variety of Internet access to information with regards to preparing for adult life after graduation.  Students have the opportunity to explore interests, research vocational, technical, and military careers, plan for college, apply to post secondary schools, submit an application for a criminal clearance record, register for Selective Service and register for college boards.   Web addresses can be obtained by calling the guidance department at 412.664.3658.

Confidentiality of Student Records
McKeesport Area School District protects the confidentiality of personally identifiable information regarding exceptional and protected handicapped students in accordance with state and federal law and district policy.  Parents have the right to review all information.  Records are disposed of in a timely manner after notification of parents.

INFORMATION
To learn more about the Special Education Program at McKeesport Area School District contact:
Mrs. Patricia Tkacik, Director of Special Education
3590 O'Neil Boulevard
McKeesport, PA  15132
(412) 664-3622
Fax (412) 664-3626

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