Special Education

See Also
Dyslexia
The Burnham Wood Family of Charter Schools offers a full continuum of Special Education services, instructional arrangements and related services as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to those enrolled students who qualify.

Updates

Please see the updates relating to eligibility and evaluation for Special Education. Lea las actualizaciones relacionadas con la elegibilidad y la evaluación para la educación especial.

Initial Testing and Eligibility

A student must have one or more of the disabilities listed in Federal regulations or in State law or both in order to qualify for Special Education and related services.
  • The School evaluate each student who is suspected by the School as having a disability in a timely manner
  • The testing shall be conducted in accordance with Federal and State regulations concerning Comprehensive Individual Assessment
  • Only Texas Certified Educational Diagnosticians and/or Texas Certified Psychologists will give assessments
  • Upon completion of all testing, a determination regarding eligibility shall be made by an Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Committee and the parent

Development of the IEP

For each enrolled student who is determined to be eligible for Special Education and/or related services, an ARD Committee and the parent shall develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for the student. The IEP may be modified at any time, but in no event shall the IEP remain the same for longer than 12 months.

Transfer Students

For a student who is new to the school, an ARD Committee may meet when the student enrolls at the School if the parent informs the School that the student was receiving Special Education or related services in the previous school setting. Special Education services and/or related services shall be set up temporarily and shall be contingent upon:
  • The receipt of valid assessment data from the previous school
  • Collection of new assessment data
For students enrolling in the school during the school year, information from the prior school, as well as information collected during the current year, may be used to determine eligibility. A second ARD meeting shall be convened within 30 days from the date of first ARD meeting held to finalize or develop a new IEP based on the assessment data.

Referral for Services During the School Year

Parents are encouraged to contact the School’s principal if at any time during the school year they suspect that their child has a disability which would make him/her eligible to receive Special Education and/or related services. Parents interested in having the School assess their child to determine eligibility, or who wish to receive more information about the Special Education process, or parents of children experiencing difficulty with academic success, should contact the School’s principal for more information. Staff members who believe a child may be eligible for Special Education or related services at any time during the school year should bring this to the attention of the Principal as soon as the belief arises.

Providing Assistance to Students Who Have Learning Difficulties or Who Need or May Need Special Education

If a child is experiencing learning difficulties, the parent may contact the Special Education director to learn about the district’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of support options, including referral for a special education evaluation. Students having difficulty in the regular classroom should be considered for tutorial, compensatory, and other support services that are available to all students.

At any time, a parent is entitled to request an evaluation for special education services. Within a reasonable amount of time, the district must decide if the evaluation is needed. If evaluation is needed, the parent will be notified and asked to provide consent for the evaluation. The district must complete the evaluation and the report within 60 calendar days of the date of the district receives the written consent. The district must give a copy of the report to the parent.

If the district determines that the evaluation is not needed, the district will provide the parent with a written notice that explains why the child will not be evaluated. This written notice will include a statement that informs the parent of their rights if they disagree with the district. Additionally, the notice must inform the parent how to obtain a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards – Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities.

Helpful Links & Resources


The Special Education Information Center (SPEDTex) provides resources and interactive features for increasing family awareness of disabilities and special education processes, with the goal of improving partnerships between schools and families.

Contact information:

Phone: 1-855-773-3839
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Live Chat: www.spedtex.org