Special Education

The goal of the Rensselaer City School District is to provide a continuum of appropriate educational programs in the least restrictive environment to all students with disabilities in need of special education services.  In providing educational services to students with disabilities, the Rensselaer City School District is responsive to the continually evolving nature of the relationship of special education to general education.

Further, it is believed that appropriate special education services for students with disabilities is best achieved by working to cultivate ongoing parental involvement (i.e., natural, adoptive parents, legal guardian, or surrogate parent). Parent involvement in all aspects of the design and delivery of educational services is invited, encouraged and desired. For students to receive special education services, a parent’s written consent is required.

A continuum of educational services is based on upon the following principles:

• The educational services received by Rensselaer students are determined from comprehensive evaluations that identify the level of support, related and or instructional services that are required to meet the individual educational needs of students;
• The educational services are provided in the least restrictive environment that is appropriate to meet the student’s special educational needs;
• The educational services emphasize the individual educational needs of the students rather that focus on the disability as a basis for appropriate grouping.

These principles reflect the approach and philosophy the Rensselaer City School District takes to provide educational services for students with disabilities.

Mission Statement

The Rensselaer City School District, a partnership of school, parent and community, is committed to preparing its students for the future.  We believe that students can and will learn the prescribed curriculum.  Our purpose is to educate al students to a high level of academic performance by providing an environment where all will learn and we accept the responsibility to teach all students.

In conjunction with the District’s mission statement, the overall goal of Rensselaer Special Education Program is to achieve the standards established by both the District and New York State.  The District seeks to accomplish this by:

• Child Study Team/Instructional Support Team program and referral prior to Special Education referral;
• Identifying pupils who qualify for special education and providing appropriate services;
• Providing programs that allow students to be educated with there age appropriate peers in the least restrictive environment;
• Guaranteeing due process procedures with regard to identification, evaluation and placement of students;
• Guaranteeing the confidentiality of records and all personally identifiable information;
• Ensuring that student with disabilities have access to all-educational programs provided by the school district, including extracurricular programs and activities;
• Ensuring that student needs are identified and provided for, through the use of an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP);
• Promoting programs of instruction that focus on character development and high expectations for students;
• Providing students with the knowledge, skills and strategies they will need to secure and maintain employment, and be responsible, productive citizens.

Goals for Special Education

• Comply with Federal Laws, State Regulations, and Board of Education Policy pertaining to the education of students with disabilities;
• Provide staff development for all personnel who work with students with disabilities;
• Classify students according to eligibility criteria set forth by Part 200 Regulations of the Commissioner (Section 00.1-22(I-13);
• Modify curriculum and provide accommodations as determined by students needs and state standards;
• Encourage parental involvement in the IEP process and day to day instruction;
• Provide assistive technology for communication and access to general education curriculum.

Rensselaer City School District provides a full range of special education services including:

• Speech therapy
• Counseling
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Consultant teacher services
• Resource room services to provide supplemental instruction
• Transitional support services
• Integrated class services
• Self-contained classes

Resources

http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/ VESID link

http://www.nysed.gov/  NYS Department of Education link