SCREENING AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Health Examinations
Although the physical and mental health of each child is primarily the responsibility of the home and the parents, the school district provides not only state mandated health services, but also functions to maintain and improve the health of each student while in school.
Physical Exams - According to State Law, a physical exam is required on all children within one year of their original entry into school, 6th grade and 11th grade. The exam is to performed by the child's own primary care provider and the parent or guardian is required to provide the results of the physical examination to the school district/school nurse. Physicals can be completed one year before or during the required school year. Private physician forms are provided in order for your child to complete this mandate. Please return completed forms to the school. Students will not be permitted to advance to the next grade level until a report of the physical examination is on file in the school nurse's office.
Dental exams - According to State Law, a dental exam is required on all children within one year of their original entry into school, 3rd grade and 7th grade. This exam is to be performed by the child's own dentist and the parent or guardian is required to provide the results of the dental examination to the school district/school nurse. Dental exams can be completed one year before or during the required school year. Private dental forms are provided in order for your child to complete this mandate. Please return completed forms to the school.
Each student's Body Mass Index (BMI) is mandated to be collected in grades Kindergarten through third.
For each pupil transferring to the schools of this district, the Superintendent shall request an adequate health record from the transferring school prior to enrollment.
Beginning with kindergarten vision and hearing screening and continuing through the twelfth grade, a developmental health history shall be maintained for each student in the district.
The individual pupil records of health examinations shall be maintained as a confidential record subject to statute and the policies of this district.
A student who represents a statement signed by his/her parent or guardian that a medical examination is contrary to his/her religious beliefs shall be examined only when the Secretary of Health determines that the student presents a substantial health menace to health of other persons.
PARENT AND GUARDIANS ARE URGED TO NOTIFY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE EVENT THAT THEIR SON/DAUGHTER IS DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. THIS INFORMATION IS VITAL AND NEEDS TO BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENT IS RECEIVING REASONABLE EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT.
Note to Parents: If you believe that your child's mental health condition is negatively impacting on his/her academic or behavioral performance within the school setting, please contact the Office of Student Services at (814) 776-4255.
Assessments
The Ridgway Area School District has developed the following schedule for screening/assessing /testingour students' performance at strategic grade levels at the elementary levels.
1. Pre-Kindergarten
a. Preschool Screening/Readiness
2. Grade 3
a. Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
3. Grade 4
a. Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
4. Grade 5
a. Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)
Students with disabilities will participate in statewide and district-wide assessments in one of the three ways as determined by the IEP team:
- without
accommodations
- with accommodations*
- alternate assessment**
* accommodations provided must be allowable by the test given and be used by students as part of his/her educational routine.
** To participate in the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment, student must meet specific criteria established by the Department of Education's Bureau of Special Education.
The Board shall also grant parents whatever legal rights they have to excuse their child from district and statewide assessment tests upon receipt, by the school district, of written request from the parents.
The results of assessments shall be made available t the professional staff so that they may better understand the strengths and weaknesses of their particular students.
Additional educational/psychological testing is available through the school psychologist with parental permission. The assessments to be given are determined by a team of individuals familiar with the student. This team shall make reasonable efforts to include the student's parents.
Additional Assessments
Additional remedial testing is available through Title 1 Reading Specialist, and/or the child study team at the elementary level on a need or referral basis with parental permission.
School-aged Screening Procedures
In compliance with state and federal law, notice is hereby given by the Ridgway Area School District that it conducts ongoing identification activities as part of its school program for the purpose of identifying students who may be in need of special education and related services (eligible students).
Screening measures such as curriculum-based assessment can be conducted by teachers and/or other support staff as needed or upon request. These assessments do not require parental permission.
1. Annual survey of
exceptional children ages 3 to 21.
2. Participation in the intermediate unit child find system or hotline
service.
3. Analysis of school district achievement test results.
4. Parents or guardian initiated referral.
5. Referrals to and from other public and private agencies. This
included referrals from the warden of the Elk County Prison.
6. School district staff referral.
Screening methods may vary based upon need, and do not require parental approval. Parental involvement is encouraged.
If your child is identified by the district as possibly in need of a formal evaluation, parents will be notified of applicable procedures. The procedure used by the district will be in compliance with state and federal law.
If a parent believes that their school-age child may be in need of special education services and related programs, screening and evaluation processes designed to assess the needs of the child and his/her eligibility are available at no cost to the parent, upon written request.
Upon kindergarten enrollment, Kindergarten screening are offered to the parents of the kindergarten student in late March, early April. The screening addresses kindergarten readiness skills. All screening data is reviewed and a summary is provided to the child's parents and appropriate staff. Screening dates and times are provided at kindergarten registration. An appointment may also be scheduled by contacting the Elementary Office at 814-776-2176. Kindergarten screenings are also offered to students that enroll after the spring registration window. The dates and times for these screenings are scheduled directly via the Office of Student Services (814-776-4255).
All kindergarten and first grade students are provided a speech/language screening within the first two weeks of school. Any concerns are shared with classroom teachers and/or parents in order for the child's progress to be monitored prior to consideration for follow-up assessments.
At the elementary level, all referrals begin with the Child Study Team. The Child Study Team initiates a screening and data collection process. A parent of staff member may initiate this process by submitting a written request to the Office of Student Services at the elementary level. Screening information is used by the Child Study Team, which welcomes parental involvement, to generate a plan to meet the child's specific needs or to document the need for further evaluation.
The district provides for the development and continual analysis of student portfolios. Such portfolios may include: written work by students; other demonstration or performances by students related to specific student performance standards; examinations developed by teachers to assess specific student performance standards; diagnostic assessments; other measures, as appropriate, which may include standardized tests. Portfolios are available to parents at conferences or by appointment.
Elementary referrals for gifted screening can be made directly to the School Psychologist. Screenings are conducted to determine if additional assessments are needed. Pennsylvania State Regulations (Chapter 16) define mental giftedness as "outstanding intellectual and creative ability the development of which requires specially designed programs or support services, or both, not ordinarily provided in the regular education program." The term mentally gifted includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher and other factors (above grade level achievement, high rates of acquisition and retention, higher level thinking skills, high level of accomplishment, performance, or expertise in one or more academic areas, documented evidence that intervening factors are masking gifted ability.) If a parent suspects that a student may demonstrate gifted characteristics, a referral for a gifted screening can be made. With parent permission, the School Psychologist will administer a brief measure of intellectual functioning. If a student earns a composite score of 125 or higher, a referral for a formal Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation (GMDE) will be made.
PLEASE NOTE: Screening activities do not serve as a bar to the right os a parent to request a formal evaluation, at any time, including prior to or during the conduct of screening activities.
Pre-School Screening Procedures
Screening and evaluation processes are available at no cost to parents who believe their infant, toddler, or young child (age 3 to school-age) may be in need of early intervention services. parents may request screening and evaluation at any time, whether or not their child is enrolled in the District's public school program. Requests for evaluation and screening are to be made in writing to any school administrator. Screening and evaluation procedures for infants and toddles (birth to age 3) are provided by the Cameron-Elk-McKean County (CEM) Early Intervention Services. CEM Early Intervention Services (814-362-7216) may be contacted for a schedule of screening dates and times as they occur throughout the year. The Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit Nine handles screening and evaluation procedures for children of age three to school age. Developmental screenings are also held at the local family center(s). The Intermediate Unit's Early Intervention Office (814-887-9287) may be contacted for a schedule of screening dates, times, and locations as they occur throughout the year.
Student records are essential to the successful delivery of formal education at the elementary level. Student records are maintained, used, and destroyed in a manner consistent with privacy rights guaranteed by state and federal law.