Special Education
Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School’s mission is to continue to build a model online school where a compelling, customized, and multi-sensory curriculum is delivered through the Internet. PALCS computer-based curriculum and instruction engage and educate the special education student with a rich infusion of multimedia features.
Flexibility
The PALCS program works for students with medical disabilities that require frequent hospital stays or rehabilitation at home. With a laptop computer (not standard, but available to those with need), these children can take their school to the hospital.
PALCS is self-pacing; students can and often do access their school work at all hours of the day and night and during the weekend.
Special Education Enrollment Process
Each student identified with special needs must go through an orientation process as required by PALCS. During the orientation period, placement tests are given and a new IEP is created for each special education student. An IEP meeting is held at the orientation (in person or via a phone conference) and any changes that need to be made or any related services that need to be provided are discussed and provided at that time. Once the IEP is agreed upon, each special education student is enrolled in courses by the Special Education Coordinator, Amy Murphy.
Students are enrolled in regular education courses as part of an inclusion approach. For students not able to effectively function in regular education courses, remedial courses are assigned. After being enrolled in courses, each special education student is then assigned a resource room teacher. The resource room teacher is available to assist the student in any way needed to help ensure academic success.
Services provided by Special Education Teachers:
- Assistance with assignments
- Modifying and presenting assignments in a different mode to ensure understanding and success
- Collaborating and educating home facilitators on how to best assist their child in regards to their academics
- Correspondence (via phone, chat room, multi-media room, email) with students on a weekly, daily, or as needed basis
- One-on-one instruction time with special education students in the multi-media room
Conducting IEP meetings annually and reconvening IEP meetings as needed
- Researching and providing assistive technology or supplemental software programs as needed
- Providing quarterly IEP Progress Reports to inform home facilitators how their child is progressing toward their IEP goals and objectives
- Collaboration with regular education teachers to discuss how to most effectively meet the needs of each individual student
More Information:
Please view this informational .pdf document designed for parents, regarding Special Education in Charter Schools:
http://www.palcs.org/specialed.pdf
Pennsylvania State Dept. of Education
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/special_edu/site/default.asp
PA Intermediate Units (Free information and training workshops)
http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Internet/Bureaus/pdPlanRes.nsf/
infoBPR_Education_PA_Intermediate_unit
Transition Information
http://www.transitionmap.org/
Parent Education Network(site designed to support PA parent of children with special needs)
http://www.parentednet.org/
PA Training & Technical Assistance Network (PATTAN) (The Parent Guides and other publication resources provide a wealth of useful information on special education an d other issues.)
http://parent.pattan.net/
PA Parents & Caregivers Resource Network (PPCRN) PPCRN is a fourteen year old statewide cross-disability, grassroots network that supports parents' and caregivers' efforts to help their children and adult family members with developmental disabilities.
http://www.ppcrn.org/
All questions may be directed to Amy Murphy, Special Education Coordinator, at amurphy@palcs.org.
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ANNUAL PUBLIC NOTICE
In compliance with state and federal law, the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School will provide 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 of school age with a physical or mental disability that substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program.
These services and protections for “protected handicapped students” are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.
For further information on the evaluation procedures and provisions of services to protected handicapped students, contact the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School at 610-701-3333, or via email at info@palcs.org.
July 1, 1999 – 22 Pa. Code Chapter 15 |
