What is Special Education?

Special Education is specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including: instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings. The purpose of Special Education is to provide students with a Free and Appropriate Public Education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Special Education should be an ongoing collaborative process between students, teachers, families, and administrators and our belief is that all students can master difficult learning objectives if they are provided with engaging, differentiated instruction that is geared towards individual student needs.

The Perry Middle School Special Education department provides services, support and leadership for students with disabilities in order to enable each student to achieve their individualized goals and objectives within the school and community.

Well before special education is considered, students receive targeted intervention in the behavior or academic need or special services as outlined in Rule 3301-35-06 of the Administrative Code. These may involve school and/or community-based resources. These resources may include health and social services, short- and long-term counseling, case management, juvenile justice, drug and alcohol treatment, shelter, early childhood programs, truancy programs, social skills programs, school counseling, supplemental services, after-school programs and summer programs. All interventions are research-based or evidence-based.

RESOURCE ROOM

Resource Room services focus on supporting students with disabilities who access learning through an alternative curriculum, Ohio Academic Content Standards – Extended (OACS-E) . Students who participate in the Resource Room review the skills to successfully complete course requirements. This is accomplished through specially designed services indicated in the student’s Individual Education Plan   and the implementation of testing accommodations. “Resource Room” is placed into a student’s schedule if it is present on their Individualized Education Plan. Resource occurs in lieu of an exploratory offering. 

ACADEMIC INTERVENTION

There are times in which non-special education students may require additional help/support.  Tutoring and intervention support should always begin with the classroom teacher. This type of Tier 1 or 2 instruction  occurs by the general education teacher or team during class, FLEX, or after school. Academic labs (Tier 3) may be scheduled based on student need, numbers, and staffing availability.  These Tier 3 Interventions are designed for students who struggle in the content areas of math and/or reading and demonstrate achievement gaps in the core subjects.  Intervention offers students the ability to work with a certified teacher in a small group setting in order to strengthen remedial skills necessary for academic success.