Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services and Programs

2021-2022

Notice to Parents

According to state and federal special education regulations, Annual Public Notice to parents of children who

reside within a school district is required regarding Child Find responsibilities. School Districts, Intermediate

Units, and Charter Schools are required to conduct Child Find activities for children who may be eligible for

services via Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For additional information related to Section 504/

Chapter 15 Services, the parent may refer to Section 504, Chapter 15, and the Basic Education Circular

entitled “Implementation of Chapter 15.” Also, school districts are required to conduct Child Find activities

for children who may be eligible for Gifted Services via 22 PA Code Chapter 16. For additional information

regarding Gifted Services, the parent may refer to 22 PA Code Chapter 16. If a student is both gifted and

eligible for Special Education, the procedures in IDEA and Chapter 14 shall take precedence.

This Notice shall inform parents throughout the School District, Intermediate Unit, and Charter School of the

child identification activities and of the procedures followed to ensure confidentiality of information

pertaining to students with disabilities or eligible young children. In addition to this Public Notice, each

School District, Intermediate Unit, and Charter School shall publish written information in the handbook and

on the website. Children of ages three through twenty-one can be eligible for special education programs and

services. If parents believe that the child may be eligible for special education, the parent should contact the

appropriate staff members identified at the end of this public notice.

Children age three through the age of admission to first grade are also eligible if they have developmental

delays and, as a result, need special education and related services. Developmental delay is defined as a child

who is less than the age of beginners and at least three years of age and is considered to have a developmental

delay when one of the following exists: (i) The child’s score, on a developmental assessment device, on an

assessment instrument which yields a score in months, indicates that the child is delayed by 25% of the

child’s chronological age in one or more developmental areas; (ii) The child is delayed in one or more of the

developmental areas, as documented by test performance of 1.5 standard deviations below the mean on

standardized tests. Developmental areas include cognitive, communicative, physical, social/emotional, and

self-help. For additional information, parents may contact Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8.

Evaluation Process

Each School District, Intermediate Unit, and Charter School has a procedure in place by which parents can

request an evaluation. For information about procedures applicable to your child, contact the school which

your child attends. Telephone numbers and addresses can be found at the end of this Notice. Parents of

preschool-age children, age three through five, and who do not reside in Altoona School District or Tyrone

Area School District may request an evaluation in writing by addressing a letter to the Appalachia

Intermediate Unit staff. Residents of Altoona School District should address their requests directly to Altoona

School District. Likewise, residents of Tyrone Area School District should address their requests directly to

Tyrone Area School District.

Consent

School entities cannot proceed with an evaluation or with the initial provision of special education and related

services without the written consent of the parents. For additional information related to consent, please refer

to the Procedural Safeguards Notice which can be found at the PaTTAN website, at www.Pattan.net . After

written parental consent is obtained, the district will proceed with the evaluation process. If the parent

disagrees with the evaluation, the parent can then request an independent education evaluation at public

expense.

Program Development

Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified professionals and parents determine whether the

child is eligible. If the child is eligible, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meets, develops the

program, and determines the educational placement. School district staff, intermediate unit staff, or charter

school staff will issue a Notice of Recommended Education Placement (NOREP)/prior written notice.

Parental written consent is required before initial services can be provided. Parents have the right to revoke

consent after initial placement.

Confidentiality of Information

The School Districts, Intermediate Units, and Charter Schools maintain records concerning all children

enrolled in the school, including students with disabilities. All records are maintained in the strictest

confidentiality. Parental consent, or consent of an eligible child who has reached the age of majority under

State law, must be obtained before personally identifiable information is released, except as permitted under

the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The age of majority in Pennsylvania is 21. Each

participating agency must protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection,

storage, disclosure, and destruction stages. One official at each participating agency must assume

responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable information. Each participating

agency must maintain, for public inspection, a current listing of the names and positions of those employees

within the agency who have access to personally identifiable information.

For additional information related to student records, parents may refer to the Family Education Rights and

Privacy Act (FERPA).

Retention/Destruction of Student Records- Special Education

In accordance with state and federal regulations implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA), this notice is hereby given that in accordance with 24CFR 300.573, the School Districts,

Intermediate Unit and Charter Schools listed below may destroy the special education records of students who

exited from any special education program.

Special education records, which have been collected by the School Districts, Intermediate Unit and Charter

Schools listed below related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of the

Special Education in the district, IU or charter school must be maintained under state and federal law for a

period of seven (7) years after Special Education services have ended for the student. Special education

services end when the student no longer is eligible for services, graduates, completes his or her educational

program at age 21, or moves from the School District, Intermediate Unit, or Charter School.

After seven (7) years, the records are no longer useful to the School District, Intermediate Unit or Charter

School and will be destroyed in accordance with state and federal law unless the parent/guardian or eligible

(adult) student contacts the responsible district that the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student wishes to

maintain the information as a personal record. These records may be useful to the parent/guardian or former

student when applying for post-secondary education/training, benefits or social services.

Records including student’s name, address, grades, attendance, dates attended, grade level completed and year

completed may be destroyed after seven (7) years have passed from the student’s 21st birthday.

If you wish to request records or need additional information you may contact the responsible school entity.

Destruction will proceed where parents/guardians or eligible (adult) students have not requested records in

accordance with the responsible school district’s, Intermediate Unit’s or Charter School’s Notice of

Destruction of Special Education Records.

Retention/Destruction of Student Records- PA State Assessments

In accordance with 34 CFR § 300.624, please be advised of the following retention/destruction schedule for

the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA), Pennsylvania System of School Assessment

(PSSA), and Keystone Exam related materials:

- PSSA, Keystone Exam, and PASA test booklets will be destroyed one year after student reports

are delivered to the administration associated with the test booklets.

- PSSA and Keystone Exam answer booklets and PASA test materials will be destroyed three years

after completion of the assessment.

This notice is only a summary of the Special Education services, evaluation and screening activities, and

rights and protections pertaining to children with disabilities, children thought to be disabled, and their

parents. For information or to request evaluation or screening of a public or private school child, contact the

responsible school entity listed below. For preschool age children information, screenings, and evaluations

requested may be obtained by contacting the Intermediate Unit or Altoona School District for residents of

Altoona or Tyrone Area School District for residents of Tyrone area. The addresses of these schools are as

follows:

SPECIAL EDUCATION CONTACTS

Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8

Dr. Amy Woomer, Contact Person

4500 Sixth Avenue

Altoona, PA 16602

1-800-228-7900

Altoona Area School District

Michele Sanders, Contact Person

1415 Sixth Avenue

Altoona, PA 16602

814-946-8252 Ext 6100

Bedford Area School District

Dr. Paul Ruhlman, Contact Person

330 East John Street

Bedford, PA 15522

814-623-4260, ext. 1510

Bellwood-Antis School District

Carol A. Beard, Contact Person

400 Martin Street

Bellwood, PA 16617

814-742-7605 Ext 5153

Berlin-Brothersvalley School District

Maria Murphy, Contact Person

1025 Main Street

Berlin, PA 15530

814-267-4621

Blacklick Valley School District

Heather Rhine, Contact Person

555 Birch Street

Nanty-Glo, PA 15943

814-749-9211, ext. 223

Cambria Heights School District

Robert Diamond, Contact Person

426 Glendale Lake Road

Patton, PA 16668

814-674-3601 ext. 4007

Central Cambria School District

Dr. Melissa Shaffer, Contact Person

208 Schoolhouse Road

Ebensburg, PA 15931

814-472-4492 ext. 288

Chestnut Ridge School District

Dr. Amy D. Miller, Contact Person

3281 Valley Road

Fishertown, PA 15539

814-839-4195, ext. 4441

Claysburg-Kimmel School District

Brian Helsel, Contact Person

531 Bedford Street

Claysburg, PA 16625

814-239-5141 ext. 1318

Conemaugh Township Area School District

Jane Jugan, Contact Person

1516 Tire Hill Road

Johnstown, PA 15905

814-479-4080, ext. 3758

Conemaugh Valley School District

Mandy Livai, Contact Person

1342 William Penn Avenue

Johnstown, PA 15909

814-535-5523

Everett Area School District

Dr. James Hollis, Contact Person

427 East South Street

Everett, PA 15537

814-652-9114, ext. 2109

Ferndale Area School District

Jessica Maxwell, Contact Person

100 Dartmouth Avenue

Johnstown, PA 15905

814-539-6168

Forest Hills School District

Elissa Boyd, Contact Person

PO Box 158

Sidman, PA 15955

814-487-7613

Greater Johnstown School District

Amie Lumadue, Contact Person

1091 Broad Street

Johnstown, PA 15906

814-533-5661

Hollidaysburg Area School District

Laura Koehle, Contact Person

405 Clark Street

Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

814-695-5659

Meyersdale Area School District

Angela Boutiller, Contact Person

309 Industrial Park Road

Meyersdale, PA 15552

814-634-5123, ext. 304

North Star School District

Suzie St. Clair, Contact Person

1200 Morris Avenue

Boswell, PA 15531

814-629-1158

Northern Bedford County School District

Lindsay Cherry, Contact Person

152 NBC Drive

Loysburg, PA 16659

814-766-2221, ext. 4718

Northern Cambria School District

Robert Truscello, Contact Person

601 Joseph Street

Northern Cambria, PA 15714

814-948-5880, ext. 2664

Penn Cambria School District

Carrie Conrad, Contact Person

201 Sixth Street

Cresson, PA 16630

814-886-4785 ext. 1004

Portage Area School District

Olivia Kudlawiec, Contact Person

84 Mountain Avenue

Portage, PA 15946

814-736-9636, ext. 1605 or 1304

Richland School District

Dr. Jennifer Shuman, Contact Person

321 Schoolhouse Road

Johnstown, PA 15904

814-266-6082

Rockwood Area School District

Mary Gosnell, Contact Person

437 Somerset Avenue

Rockwood, PA 15557

814-926-4688 ext. 1116

Salisbury-Elk Lick School District

Kala Loya, Contact Person

PO Box 68

Salisbury, PA 15558

814-662-2733

Shade-Central City School District

Amy Pierce, Contact Person

235 McGregor Avenue

Cairnbrook, PA 15924

814-754-5021

Shanksville-Stonycreek School District

Reno Barkman, Contact Person

PO Box 128

Shanksville, PA 15560

814-267-4649, ext. 252

Somerset Area School District

Erick Fish, Contact Person

645 South Columbia Avenue, Suite 130

Somerset, PA 15501

814-444-3225

Spring Cove School District

Harry Gregg, Contact Person

1100 East Main Street

Roaring Spring, PA 16673

814-224-3006

Turkeyfoot Valley School District

Nicole Dice, Contact Person

172 Turkeyfoot Road

Confluence, PA 15424

814-395-3621, ext. 409

Tussey Mountain School District

Denelle Diehl, Contact Person

199 Front Street

Saxton, PA 16678

814-635-3670

Tyrone Area School District

Kourtney Klock, Contact Person

701 Clay Avenue

Tyrone PA 16686

814-684-4240, ext. 4136

Westmont Hilltop School District

Dr. Nicole Cramer, Contact Person

222 Fair Oaks Drive

Johnstown, PA 15905

814-255-8707

Williamsburg Community School District

Lisa Murgas, Contact Person

515 West Third Street

Williamsburg, PA 16693

814-832-2125

Windber Area School District

Richard Lucas, Contact Person

2301 Graham Avenue

Windber, PA 15963

814-467-4567 ext. 810

Admiral Peary Area Vocational-Technical School

Kathleen Conrad, Contact Person

948 Ben Franklin Highway

Ebensburg, PA 15931

814-472-6490, ext. 305

Bedford County Technical Center

Michael O’Dellick, Contact Person

195 Pennknoll Road

Everett, PA 15537

814-623-2760, ext. 4800

Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center

Mike Selvenis, Contact Person

1500 Fourth Avenue

Altoona, PA 16602

814-946-8457

Greater Johnstown Career & Technology Center

John Augustine, III, Contact Person

445 Schoolhouse Road

Johnstown, PA 15904

814-266-6073, ext. 400

Somerset County Technology Center

Matthew Danel, Contact Person

281 Technology Drive

Somerset, PA 15501

814-443-3651, ext. 6128

Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation

Kim Salyards, Contact Person

Bonnie Waltz, Contact Person

580 Foot of Ten Road

Duncansville, PA 16635

814-682-5258

Hope for Hyndman Charter School

Stephanie Holliday, Contact Person

130 School Drive

Hyndman, PA 15545

814-842-3918, ext. 305

Bedford County Prison

Brad Theys, Contact Person

425 Imlertown Road

Bedford, PA 15522

814-472-7690

The Intermediate Unit, School Entity, or Charter School will not discriminate in employment, educational

programs, or activities based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap, creed, marital status, or

because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. No preschool, elementary, or secondary

school pupil enrolled in a School District, Intermediate Unit, or Charter School program shall be denied equal

opportunity to participate in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, color, handicap,

creed, national origin, marital status, or financial hardship.