The School Districts listed above, either directly or through various other education agencies including CLIU #21 provide special education services which may be required by children with special needs.
Types of programs and services are:
(1) Academic Support
(a) Gifted Support for students identified as mentally gifted. The focus is to provide instruction beyond the regular curriculum.
(b) Learning Support for students whose primary identified need is academic learning.
(2) Life Skill Support
For students where the focus is primarily on the needs of students for independent living as well as general daily living skills.
(3) Emotional Support
For students whose primary identified need is for emotional support. The focus is primarily on behavior management.
(4) Sensory Support
(a) Deaf or Hard of Hearing for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
(b) Blind or Visually Impaired for students who are blind or visually impaired.
(5) Speech and Language Support
For students who are speech and language impaired.
(6) Physical Support
For students where the program is modified primarily to meet the need of the physically disabled student.
(7) Autistic Support
For students who are autistic. The focus is primarily to develop daily living skills.
(8) Multidisabilities Support
For students who are multihandicapped. The focus is on daily living, self help, and independent living.
Screening
Kindergarten screening activities include a review of informal social and health history, developmental areas, functional vision and hearing, and speech and language. Kindergarten screenings are held during the spring at the school district. Further screenings are conducted through the Instructional Support Teams in each school throughout the year for any student that may be in need of special education services.
Parents who wish to request screening and evaluation for their child may do so by contacting the principal or counselor in their child’s school building.
Evaluations
If you believe your child needs special education services, an evaluation will be conducted by a team. The team shall be composed of the parents, persons familiar with the child’s development, persons knowledgeable in such areas of suspected disability, persons trained in the appropriate evaluation techniques and, if possible, persons familiar with the child’s cultural background.
All information gathered through the screening and/or re-evaluation process is considered confidential under Section 438 of the General Education Provisions Act.
Questions regarding services for special needs children can be addressed to:
Allentown, Mr. Brian Siket (484) 765-4070
Catasauqua, Ms. Shelley Keffer (610) 264-5571
East Penn, Dr. Linda Pekarik (610) 966-8354
Jim Thorpe, Mrs. Sandra Michalik (570) 325-3691
Lehighton, Mr. Mark McIntyre (610) 377-4490
Northern Lehigh, Ms. Michele Dotta (610) 767-9849
Northwestern Lehigh, Ms. Andrea Edmonds (610) 298-8661
Palmerton, Ms. Suzanne Rentschler (610) 826-7101
Panther Valley, Mr. Greg Kosciolek (570) 645-0386
Parkland, Ms. Brenda De renzo (610) 351-5559
Salisbury Township, Ms. Tracey Jacobi (610) 797-2062
Southern Lehigh, Ms. Andria Buchman (610) 282-3121
Weatherly, Dr. Catherine H. Nelson (570) 427-8681
Whitehall-Coplay, Ms. Brooke Clary (610) 439-1431
Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Ms. Elizabeth Porter (570) 325-3682
Lehigh Career and Technical Institute, Ms. Kristin Jachowicz (610) 799-1326
Early Intervention, Mrs. Allison Haverman/Mr. Matthew Marucci (610) 769-4111
Nonpublic/Private Schools, Mrs. Maryalice Grogan (610) 769-4111
Youth Forestry Camp, Mr. Dan Fisher (570) 443-0231
Arts Academy Charter Middle School, Ms. Kathleen Adolt-Silva (610) 351-0234
Arts Academy Elementary Charter School, TBD (610) 841-4560
Circle of Seasons, Ms. Elena Steidinger (610) 285-6267
Executive Education Academy, Ms. Sara Evans (610) 841-7044
Innovative Arts Academy Charter School, Mr. Doug Taylor (610) 403-2787
Lincoln Leadership Academy, Ms. Sandra Figueroa-Torres (484) 860-3300
Roberto Clemente, Mr. Damian Romero (610) 439-5181
Seven Generations, Mr. Paul Hunter (610) 421-8844
Preschool Children with Special Needs
Parents who have questions regarding their child’s seeing, hearing, learning, talking, moving about, manipulating objects, understanding, showing emotions, getting along with others, playing with toys, taking care of himself/herself should phone CLIU #21, which offers Project Connect, a preschool program for children with special needs. Project Connect can provide information, screening, evaluation, programs, therapy, parent
involvement, and referral to community agencies at no cost to the parent.
For further information phone the CLIU #21 at 1-800-223-4821 or
610-769-4111.
Nonpublic Schools/Private Schools
Duties owed to students with disabilities enrolled in private schools by their parents are limited to child find activities and a genuine offer of a Free
Appropriate Program of Education (FAPE) from the school district of residence. Students unilaterally enrolled in private schools by their parents have a right to participate in services; however, no private school child with a disability is entitled to any particular service or to any amount of service.
