Special Services

WHRC, Suite 2

60 Parkhurst

Pontiac, MI 48342

Angela Parkman, Ed.S.
Director

Tyria Garrett, M.A.
Supervisor

Lilly Evans-Cintron
Administrative Assistance-Special Ed. Records
lilliam.evans-cintron@pontiacschools.org
(248) 451-7523 ext. 7521

Maiah Jones
Administrative Assistant-Child Find, Medicaid, and Social Security
maiah.jones@pontiacschools.org
(248) 451-7523 ext. 7562

Breana Washington
Administrative Assistant-Business Accounts
breana.washington@pontiacschools.org
(248) 451-7523 ext. 7523

Special education is not a “place” where we send children who do not “fit”, but rather a continuum of services and programs to supplement a student’s access to general education. Services offered to a student are determined by individualized education plans-- IEPs-- that consider the student’s educational level, learning style, and impact on his or her specific disability.

Programs and Services

Special education programs and services are delivered through a continuum of placements in the least restrictive environment in the child’s home school. This continuum includes instruction in general education classes with resource support, resource classrooms with services for 2-3 hours a day, self-contained special education classrooms, special education schools and home-bound teaching. When students must be transported to their programs, transportation services are provided.

Instructional Services

The vision of the Office of Special Services and Student Equity is to provide a quality education to every child in an instructional setting appropriate for his or her needs. This vision is supported by the district’s mission to educate all students in the least restrictive environment. The federal mandates Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB) are intended to support the idea of quality education by emphasizing the necessity of relying on research-based instructional practices.

Comprehensive Evaluations

Related Services

Ancillary Support Services

Support Services

Instructional Support Team
Given the risks of stigma, over-identification and misclassification, the protection of the child’s rights and interests requires that every possible avenue be explored to maximize the student’s access to an appropriate general education.

The Instructional Support Team (IST) is a collaborative, problem-solving effort by general education personnel in conjunction with special education diagnostic personnel and parents. Before referring a student for individual assessment and consideration for special education eligibility, all schools are asked to make a systematic attempt to determine whether satisfactory adjustment and progress can be achieved in the general education curriculum.

Response to Intervention
A major concern for parents as well as teachers is how to help children who experience difficulty learning in school. Everyone wants to see their child excel, and it can be frustrating when a child falls behind in learning to read, do math, or experiences behavioral difficulties that impact success in the classroom. Children who have the most difficulty are often referred for an evaluation to determine if they need and qualify for special education services.

Response to Intervention (RTI) is an individual, comprehensive student-centered assessment and intervention concept that focuses on a problem-solving framework to identify and address the student’s difficulties using effective, efficient instruction and targeted interventions leading to improved achievement. The Office of Special Services and Student Equity is working collaboratively with teachers, administrators and support staff to:

Increase competency in grade level content expectations for all students
Address behavioral issues that frequently present barriers to successful academic achievement

Early Intervention
Children from birth through age 3 may be eligible for special education services. The Early Intervention Program provides special education instruction and ancillary services to infants and toddlers in both the home and classroom setting. These services are available to children residing in the Pontiac School District service area. Speech therapists provide services for children from birth through age 3 who have communication or hearing disorders.

SLD Evaluation Plan

Pontiac School District’s Evaluation Plan to determine the existence of Specific Learning Disability (SLD):

Student will be referred to the Instructional Support Team (IST)
All pertinent data will be collected from district and state assessments and response to scientific, research-based intervention.
A ‘Review of Existing Evaluation Data’ (REED) meeting will be conducted to provide guidance and structure for the development of both initial evaluations and re-evaluations.
Student will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, which may include, but is not limited to school psychologist, teacher consultant, social worker, teacher, and parent input.

In order to determine the existence of SLD, a student does not:

Achieve adequately for the student’s age or to meet State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR§300.309 (a)(b)(1)(i) when provided with learning experiences and instruction appropriate for the student’s age or State-approved grade level standards; and
Make sufficient progress to meet age or State-approved grade-level standards in one or more of the areas identified at 34 CFR§300.309 (a)(b)(1)(i) when using a process based on the student’s response to scientific, research-based intervention.

The assessment must document a weakness in one or more of the following achievement areas:

Oral expression
Listening comprehension
Written Expression
Basic reading skills
Reading fluency skills
Reading comprehension
Mathematics calculation
Mathematics problem-solving

Individuals with Disabilities Act

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) ensures access to educational services for all students with disabilities through appropriate interventions in the least restrictive environment.

We believe that all children learn; therefore, all students are included in our district plan for student achievement. Services are available for children from birth to 26 years of age who have been determined through evaluation to have an impairment that adversely affects his or her education.

Pontiac School District parents are provided a full explanation of all of the procedural safeguards available under IDEA in the handbook, Pontiac School District Special Education Procedural Safeguards.