Annual Notice

Special Education Services (K-12)

Special education is planned instruction specifically designed to address the educational and related developmental needs of school-aged children with disabilities. This includes services for students in grades K-12.

Prior to a student being identified for special education services, the District will provide a variety of interventions in regular education. Teachers and/or parents may refer students who continue to have difficulty learning or who are thought to be gifted. Students identified as exceptional and in need of specially designed instruction will have individualized education plans (IEP’s) developed. The IEP team documents current education abilities, areas of needs and outlines goals, accommodations/ adaptations or modifications and teaching strategies, as well as other support systems that may help the student to access the general education curriculum.

Parental involvement is critical throughout the duration of the student’s time in the special education program. You are encouraged to actively participate in planning for the educational program designed to best meet your child’s needs.

The district presently provides special education services to over 400 students. The majority of our students receive these services in the regular education class with learning and/or speech support. Approximately 10% of our students, with more complex and severe disabilities, receive services, at district expense, in IU classes or other out of district locations. The district employs special education teachers, speech/language therapists, paraprofessionals, and contracts with an agency for occupational and physical therapists. All staff assigned to a student are responsible for implementing the student’s IEP, including students with a speech IEP.

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Other Resources

    Handicapped Students (504 Plans)

    Donegal School District will provides services or accommodations to protected handicapped students that 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. This is provided without discrimination or cost to the student or family. 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.

    Services and protections for protected handicapped students are distinct from those applicable to students with a disability enrolled or seeking enrollment in special education programs. For further information about the evaluation procedures and provisions of services to protected handicapped students, please contact the Director of Special Education/Pupil Services.

    The person in our office to contact for this service or further information is:

    Dana Blair dana.blair@donegalsd.org 717-492-1313

    Gifted (K-12)

    All school districts in the state of PA are obligated, under Chapter 16, to provide for the services of gifted students. DSD presently serves identified students in grades K-12. District responsibilities include the identification of and programming support for these students in their areas of highest need but corresponding to their achievement levels and rates. The district has 2 teachers servicing our students via a combination of direct services, consultation and collaboration with regular education teachers on acceleration and extension groupings and activities. At the secondary level, students are also challenged through the selection of rigorous coursework, such as seminars and AP courses. The Gifted program is entirely funded via district dollars. All staff assigned to a student follow the student’s GIEP.

    For questions regarding evaluations (or request your child be evaluated), processes or procedures please contact the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, Dana Blair at 717-492-1313 or dana.blair@donegalsd.org.

    Our gifted support teachers are:

    Sarah Lawrence (grades K-6) sarah.lawrence@donegalsd.org

    Moriah Berringer (grade 9) moriah.berringer@donegalsd.org

    Benjamin Creighton (grades 7-8, 10-12) Bejamin.Creighton@donegalsd.org