Overview

Special education is not a place where children go for services, but services children receive in accordance with their Individual Education Programs (IEPs) in the least restrictive environment.

The North Pike School District Special Education Services offers a wide variety of programs that are destined to provide quality education, which will allow all students to function at their highest potential in a complex and changing society by utilizing accommodative learning opportunities. Opportunities for a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) are provided to students beginning at the preschool level (ages 3 to 5) and continuing through the age of 21.

Placement and services flow from the needs of the students identified through a referral process that includes a multidisciplinary evaluation team (MET) which provides the foundation for the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) prior to making a placement decision for participation in one or more of the Special Education programs. Programs are designed to meet the needs of the individual and range from classes for those identified as high functioning to those necessitating community-based settings. Modifications and accommodations are used as needed to address the functioning level of the student while addressing state benchmarks and standards.

Help Us Find a Child

The North Pike School District conducts a Child Find Service. This service is designed to locate special needs students who are not in school or who, if in school, are not receiving special education services. These students range in age from birth through 21 years of age and may be determined to be orthopedically impaired, other health impaired, intellectually disabled, learning disabled, emotionally disturbed, speech impaired, multiply disabled, visually impaired, deaf-blind, hearing impaired, or have a traumatic brain injury or autism.

Our Mission

In accordance with the mission of the North Pike School District, Special Education Services Department provides vision, leadership, and expertise to schools and parents regarding the implementation of curricular and instructional initiatives that support the achievement of students with disabilities in compliance with state and federal mandates. It is the commitment of this department that students with disabilities have access to a full continuum of services while being educated with nondisabled peers to the maximum extent possible.

Our Vision

The Special Education Services Department seeks to improve the overall performance of students with disabilities and assist in narrowing the achievement gap by ensuring equal access to the curriculum and differentiated instruction, and universal design for learning in the least restrictive environment (LRE).

It is the responsibility of the NPSD to identify any child who is a resident, migrant, or homeless of the district who may have a disability, regardless of the severity of the disability. It is also the responsibility of the NPSD to evaluate any suspected child to determine if they are eligible for special education or related services under the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The NPSD is committed to identifying children before their third birthday in order to provide early intervention services (EIS) for three and four year-olds. The NPSD works with other local agencies, mental and health service agencies to identify children in need of EIS. If you suspect that your child, at any age birth through age 21, may need an evaluation to determine eligibility for early intervention or special education services, you may request an evaluation, at no cost. If your child is school age, please contact the Principal at your child’s school for information Lauren Norman, NPSD Special Services Case Manager, or Paige Pigott, NPSD Special Services Director for more information.