Right To Education

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Both federal and state laws mandate that all public schools provide a "free and appropriate" education for all children in the least restrictive environment possible, along with such additional related services as deemed necessary.

The Arc of Mercer County is proud of its record in advocating for the rights of special education students in Mercer County. We currently offer a Parent Resource Center containing various publications of interest as well as computers with Internet access to allow families to research their rights. We have sponsored numerous training events for families and have staff and volunteers serving on committees and boards state wide advocating for the right to education for all children.

Browse through the information on this page, check the links below for more information or feel free to contact us for more information or assistance.

Some Special Education Terms You Should Know

Appropriate Program - A free program of education and related services that is designed to meet the child's special needs and allows the child to make meaningful progress in school.

Due Process - The procedures that parents may use to disagree with school officials' decisions. The due process procedures include right to written notice, right to a pre-hearing conference, and right to a formal hearing and appeals.

Exceptional - Students who have a disability (sometimes called "eligible" students) or who are gifted, and because of their needs require a special education program. The term includes children with mental, emotional, sensory and health impairments, and children with physical disabilities.

IEP - Individualized Education Program. A written form that spells out the specific programs and services the child will receive. The IEP also contains goals and objectives for the child, the date services are to start, and other information about the program.For gifted children, this form is referred to as "GIEP."

IST - Instructional Support Team. A team of school staff that includes a specially trained support teacher. The IST does an initial screening of children thought to be exceptional to see if they can be helped within regular education if some changes are made to their programs. All schools were required to implement IST by 1995.

MDT - Multi-Disciplinary Team. A team of school staff and the child's parents that reviews all formal testing of a child and all other evaluation material. The MDT must issue a written report stating whether the child is exceptional, and if so, recommending the types of programs and services needed.

MDE - Multi-Disciplinary Evaluation. The multi-disciplinary team shall conduct the multi-disciplinary evaluation where all members shall give input. The evaluation shall be sufficient in scope and depth to investigate information relevant to the student's suspected exceptionality. For gifted children, this is referred to as a "GMDE."

NOREP - Notice of Recommended Educational Placement . This form lists the recommended placement for the child and explains parents' rights to agree or disagree with the recommendation and to use the due process hearing and appeals procedures.

LRE - Least Restrictive Environment. The student is to be placed in the regular public school that the student would attend if not exceptional. The IEP will describe the extent to which the student will participate in programs and activities with noneligible students and of the adaptations, if any, to activities which are necessary. An exceptional student will be removed from the regular educational environment only when the nature or intensity of the exceptionality is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

Links

PA Training and Technical Assistance Network (PATTAN) - The mission of PaTTAN is to support the efforts of the Bureau of Special Education and its initiatives and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to provide appropriate services to students who receive special education services.

Parents Involved Network of Pennsylvania (PIN)  - an organization that assists parents or caregivers of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. PIN provides information, helps parents find services and will advocate on their behalf with any of the public systems that serve children. These include the mental health system, education, and other state and local child-serving agencies.

Pennsylvania School Reform Network (PSRN)  - Works to restore Pennsylvania's promise of an excellent education for each and every child. We work with state policy makers and local homemakers, with the teachers and the taught, with the professionals and professors - with all who are willing to roll up their sleeves and improve our public schools.

The Education Law Center-PA (ELC-PA) - A non-profit legal advocacy organization dedicated to insuring that all of Pennsylvania's children have access to a quality public education. The ELC-PA advises families, advocates, and others on how to enforce students' legal rights, represents parents and children in lawsuits that seek important reforms and more.

Wrightslaw - The Special Education Advocate  - Parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys come to Wrightslaw for accurate, up-to-date information about effective advocacy for children with disabilities.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 1997 - US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs. The full text of the law is available for download here. OSEP is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. OSEP administers the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Pennsylvania Department of Education - Basic Education Circulars (BECs) and Regulations for the State of Pennsylvania are availble here as well as other resources.

U.S. Department of Education - This site may be personalized allowing you to see favorites topics and updates related to federal laws and regulations each time you visit.

The Arc of Pennsylvania  - Also contains links and more information regarding the Right to Education.