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Special Education

The Trinity Area School District (TASD) provides special education services and programs for students who are school age and meet state and federal eligibility criteria. To qualify for special education services, a student must be identified with a disability through a school based multi-disciplinary evaluation while demonstrating the need for specially designed instruction.

The TASD offers a continuum of services for all students with disabilities, in order to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in a student’s least restrictive environment (LRE). In doing so, supports in the regular education environment along with supplementary aids and services are looked at first for all students, prior to the consideration of more restrictive settings. The TASD believes that all students should have the chance to be included in all school settings as agreed to by a student’s IEP team.

In helping to support all students, the TASD provides students with a rigorous regular education curriculum, researched based interventions and small group options in the elementary, middle and high school settings. The TASD employs highly qualified paraprofessionals and embraces professional development for staff in many areas, such as co-teaching, positive behavior interventions and supports and differentiated instruction.

 

Effective no later than September 5, 2023, all students entitled to FAPE and all of the rights and procedural safeguards under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Chapter 14 of Title 22 of the Pa Code may remain enrolled in public school until they turn 22 years of age. This includes students who turned 21 and exited during or after the 2022-2023 school term. Below are some guiding documents provided through the Pa Department of Education, related to this new policy change. All questions can be directed to Ken Cross the Director of Special Education for the Trinity Area School District (724) 225-5380 x6518 or kcross@trinityhillers.net

IDEA Part B

Change in Age of Eligibility for Free and Appropriate Public Education