Special Education
Special Education provides services to students with certain disabilities that are specified in state and federal laws. Services are free of charge to the parent. Anybody may refer a student for an evaluation to determine if the student qualifies for services. The referral needs to be in writing (unless, of course, you are unable to write) and should be directed to the student's principal or classroom teacher. If you suspect that your child has a disability and might require special education services and your child is not currently enrolled in public school you may direct the referral to the special services office.
Eligibility for special education services requires that we conduct an evaluation. The result of the evaluation needs to show that the child has a disability as defined in Chapter 392-172 of the Washington Administrative Code AND that this disability has a negative effect on the child making progress in what is being taught in the general education classroom. If the child is a preschooler, the disability would need to cause the child to fall behind in activities that children without a disability do.
Services that eligible students receive need to address their individual needs. These services are outlined in an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) that school staff and parents jointly develop.
There is a multitude of legal rules and regulations that determine what happens in special education. They are outlined in WAC 392-172A and are written in legal language. Please feel free to contact one of us at the Special Services Office or the Social Service Provider at your child's school for some plain language interpretation. Another source of help for interpretation of these rules is an organization called PAVE at 1-800-5-PARENT or the Family Educator Partnership Project at 1-888-754-8798. Further information may also be obtained from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
Child Find Notice
Rainier School District is committed to addressing the unique needs of students with disabilities ages Birth through 21 residing within the boundaries of the Rainier School District. This includes children with disabilities enrolled in private, including religious schools as well as children who are homeless. Disabilities can be in any one of several areas that ultimately affect a child's learning, such as the ability to think, to express oneself, to see or hear clearly, to get around, or understand instructions given. If you have a child who you think might have a disability requiring special education instruction or significant accommodations at school, or if you know of such a child, please feel free to call the Rainier School District Special Education Office at 360-446-7406 ext 1210.
