Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School’s mission is to provide 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. 

Services provided by Special Education Resource Teachers: 

• Assist with assignments
• Modify and present assignments in a different mode to ensure understanding and success
• Collaborate and educate home facilitators on how best to assist their child with academics
• Correspond (via phone, chat room, multi-media room, email) with students on a weekly, daily or as needed basis
• Provide one-on-one instruction time with students in the multi-media room
• Conduct IEP meetings annually and reconvene IEP meetings as needed
• Research and provide assistive technology or supplemental software programs as needed
• Provide quarterly IEP Progress Reports to Home Facilitators indicating the student’s progress toward achieving IEP goals and objectives
• Collaborate with regular education teachers to discuss how to most effectively meet the needs of each individual student

 Flexibility

Since PALCS is self-pacing, the special education program works well 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. Furthermore, students can and often do access their school work at all hours of the day and night and during the weekend, as dictated by their individual needs.

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.

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