In compliance with state and federal law, notice is hereby given by the Muhlenberg School District that it conducts ongoing identification activities as a part of its school program for the purpose of identifying disabled students who may be in need of special education and related services (eligible students). Individualized services and programs are available for children who are determined to need specially designed instruction due to the following conditions:

1. Autism/pervasive development disorder
2. Blindness or visual impairment
3. Deafness or hearing impairment
4. Developmental delay
5. Mentally gifted
6. Mental retardation
7. Multihandicapped
8. Neurological impairment
9. Other health impairments
10. Physical disability
11. Serious emotional disturbance
12. Specific learning disability
13. Speech and language impairment

If you believe that your school-age child may be in need of special education services and related programs, or young child (age 3 to school-age) may be in need of early intervention, screening and evaluation processes designed to assess the needs of the child and his/her eligibility are available to you at no cost, upon written request. You may request screening and evaluation at any time, whether or not your child is enrolled in the Distric's public school program. Requests for evaluation and screening are to be made in writing to building principals or Dr. Vlacia Z. Campbell, Supervisor of Special Education.

To read a full copy of the Procedural Safeguards Notice click here

Students Eligible for Service Agreements

(504/Chapter 15)

In compliance with state and federal law, the Muhlenberg School District will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student's abilities. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student, the child must be school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services and protections for "handicapped students" are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

To read a full copy of the Section 504 - Procedural Safeguards Notice click here

Students who are Gifted

In compliance with state law, the Muhlenberg School District provides services designed to meet the unique needs of gifted students. The Muhlenberg School District identifies "gifted" students on a case by case basis based on state law and District policy. Such students may possess superior IQ scores or meet multiple criteria indicating gifted ability. If your child is suspected to be in need of such services, you will be notified of evaluation procedures. If you believe your school age child may qualify for gifted education services, you may contact the District at any time to request a determination of eligibility. Please note that entitlement to gifted services includes only those rights provided for by Pennsylvania law.

• To read about the gifted program's objectives and programming click here.
• To read a full copy of Gifted Notice of Parental Rights click here.
• To read a copy of the school district&rsquos policy for Screening, Referring, Evaluating, And Identifying Students Who Are Mentally Gifted click here.

Student Records

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Confidentiality: All information gathered about your child is subject to the confidentiality provisions contained in federal and state law. The District has policies and procedures in effect governing the collection, maintenance, destruction and disclosure to third parties of this information. For information about these policies and procedures, as well as rights of confidentiality and access to educational records, you may contact in writing the person named above or any building principal.

Notification of Rights under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary Schools, click here.

• To read a copy of the school district's Student Records Policy, click here.

Special Education Services

Information about early intervention, parent rights, mediation or due process procedures, specific special education services and programs offered by Muhlenberg, and our educational records policy are available upon request. A parent may request that the district initiate a screening or evaluation of their student's specified needs at any time by contacting the building principal. Further information about these procedures may be obtained by calling the Special Education office at 610-921-8034 ext. 3522.

• To read a full copy of the Special Education Services Notice-2010, click here. (English version)
• To read a full copy of the Special Education Services Notice-2010, click here. (Spanish version)

News and Information

• Referral Process
• BCTCC Community Resource Reference Guide
• Gaskin Notice
• Understanding Parental Consent and the School-Based ACCESS Program
• A Parent's View of Informal Behavioral Assessment
• Understanding your Child's IEP
• Transition to Adult Life 2010 - CANCELLED
• Parenting in the 21st Century - Attention All Parents of School Age Children
• Improving Reading Comprehension Thourgh Vocabulary Development
• Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Links

Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) website
www.pde.state.pa.us

Special Education section of PDE
www.pde.state.pa.us/special_edu/site/
default.asp?g=0&special_eduNav=|978|&k12Nav=|1141|

Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network
www.pattan.k12.pa.us/

Berks County Intermediate Unit
www.berksiu.org/

Glossary of terms
www.pattan.k12.pa.us/glossary.aspx

Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) Phone: 1-800-222-3353
http://odr.pattan.net

Live Homework Help provided by Muhlenberg Community Library

ConsultLine, a Parent Helpline - Toll-free in Pennsylvania: 1-800-879-2301; Outside Pennsylvania: 717-541-4960, ext. 3332.

Staff

Mrs. Beverly Gallaher- Supervisor of Special Education
Mrs. Mary Davis - Special Ed Teacher Consultant/Elementary Special Ed Dept Chairperson
Mrs. Jennifer Hausman - Special Education Resource Teacher
Ms. Christine Marco Fies- School Psychologist

Mr. Matthew DeAngelis - School Psychologist

Ms. Sharawn Hall - School Psychologist

Ms. Victoria Spannuth - Secretary
Mrs. Sharon Heckman - Secretary
Mrs. Phyllis Young - Secretary
Mrs. Penny Vojtasek - Guidance Department Chairperson
Mrs. Jennifer Hausman - Secondary Special Education Department Chairperson