Pupil Services

Child Find is the process of identifying, locating, and evaluating children with disabilities who may be in need of special education and related services. Both State and local educational agencies are given the responsibility by federal and state laws to conduct child find activities so that children who need special services have the opportunity to receive those services.

For age Birth to 3 – An established condition known to result in delay, or documented developmental delay.

For ages 3 through 21 – Identification of one or more of the following conditions: autism, developmental disability, deaf-blindness, hearing impairment, including deafness, cognitive disabilities (mental retardation), multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and/or visual impairment including blindness.

If a need is identified, the child can begin receiving the appropriate special education and related services. In addition, though a child may not be eligible for special education or related services under IDEA he or she may qualify for Section 504 services, accommodations, and/or modifications if he or she has a physical, or mental impairment that currently substantially limits some major life activity which causes the student’s ability to access the school environment or school activities to be substantially limited. Free assessments are available to families to determine whether or not a disability exists.

All information collected will be held in strict confidence and released to others only with parent’s permission or as allowed by law.  The parents may have a copy of those records upon request.
 
The school district will keep a record of all persons who review confidential records with the exception of authorized school employees, or other educational agency personnel.  The school will also maintain a list of those employees who may have access to records.
 
The school district or other educational agency will inform the parents when personally identifiable information collected, maintained, or used is no longer needed to provide educational services to the child.  All personally identifiable data will be kept for at least five years or longer if required for audit purposes, or otherwise required by law.
 
Parents and students have rights in this process.  Parents have the right to:
 

• Review their child’s records;
• Refuse permission to release information (except as required by, or permitted by, law to be released; and
• Request that information they believe to be inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of their child’s privacy or other rights be changed.  The district has a process to resolve disagreements about information collected.

 
The school district has appointed one person to make sure that information about students is kept confidential.  
   
School districts are interested in meeting the needs of children with disabilities.  If you have or know of a child who may have a disability, contact N'ecole Ast, the Director of Pupil Services at 330-928-9074.

Wellness & Engagement

Staff:

Haley Film, Wellness and Engagement Coordinator, x59314, email

Kattie Martineau, Mental Health Liaison, email

Wellness and Engagement Coordinator Supports:

Student Support

C.A.R.E Coordinator

Woodridge Local School liaison for Six District CARE program. C.A.R.E (Chemical Abuse Reduced by Education) A student assistance program offered in Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Kent, Stow-Munroe Falls, Tallmadge and Woodridge school districts.

• Provide a comprehensive, district-wide approach to tobacco, alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and intervention programming.
• Offer free, accessible services and information from an identified person in each school district, including initial assessment, intervention, referral, case management and follow up services.
• Identify signs and symptoms of tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse and provide intervention and referral, often on a crisis basis.
• Work with students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff and law enforcement.
• Saturday Family Workshop
• Saturday Family Workshop for Middle School Students
• Networking programs with six district compact schools
• Annual C.A.R.E Committee Awards Coordinator

Wellness and Engagement Specialist Supports:

Attendance Liaison

To communicate with families regarding attendance via written correspondence, phone calls and home visits to minimize attendance issues and facilitate student attendance.

If a child has unexcused absences or excessive excused absences, the Wellness and Engagement Specialist must investigate the reason behind the absences, to determine if it is allowed under compulsory attendance laws (HB 410).

Requirements include meeting with students, their parents, and school administrators for determining reasons for truancy and excessive absences and developing plans for improving student attendance

Ohio Department of Education and Workforce- Attendance Support

Attendance Law FAQs

Juvenile Court Liaison

Serving as the liaison between the Woodridge Local School, Summit County Prosecutor, the local law enforcement agency and Summit County Juvenile County in matters pertaining to student absenteeism under the Ohio Revised Code.

The Wellness and Engagement Specialist must interpret and enforce state attendance laws. This includes issuing warnings to violators, filing formal complaints about violators, educating and re-educating parents and students about applicable laws, and, when necessary, attending and participating in court hearings.

When violations occur under the Ohio Revised Code, The Wellness and Engagement Specialist must file a formal complaint with the Summit County Juvenile Court on behalf of the school. This normally occurs only after warnings have been issued but no corrective action has been taken.

If Summit County Juvenile Court holds a hearing about attendance issues, the Wellness and Engagement Specialist is obligated to attend. He represents the school district and cooperates with the court in providing information, recommending punishment, and monitoring school attendance afterward.

Student Support

Working with school administrators, teachers and parents for educating students, parents and the community about laws and benefits related to school attendance.

Works with principals and families to support students on matters related to suspension and/or expulsion.

Woodridge Local School District Food Pantry Coordinator

Coordinates families receiving food on an as needed basis, including perishable and nonperishable items.

NOTICE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a nondiscrimination statute barring discrimination on the basis of one’s disability. It is the policy of the district not to discriminate on the basis of disability in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by the Act. The Act requires the district to locate, evaluate and determine if the student is a qualified individual requiring accommodation necessary to provide access to educational programs. Parents are entitled to have the opportunity to review relevant educational records under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents or guardians disagreeing with the decisions reached by school personnel for accommodations necessary for access to educational programming and/or facilities may request a hearing before an impartial officer by notifying the school principal.

The district 504 coordinator is the Director of Pupil Services, 4411 Quick Rd. Phone: 330-928-9074, ext. 591216

Special Education Services at Woodridge Local School District

Special education programs and services include: individualized direct instruction based on each student's IEP, individual/small group instruction, speech/language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, group and individual testing, community exploration, and transition services.

The special education staff includes a director, school psychologists, speech/language therapists, intervention specialists, and paraprofessionals. An occupational therapist, a physical therapist, bus drivers, and transportation assistants also work with Woodridge's students with special needs.

If you have thoughts and suggestions, or would like further information about Woodridge's Department of Special Education and 504 Plan Coordination, please contact N'ecole Ast, the Director of Pupil Services at 330-928-9074 or Send email.

For Parents with Children with Disabilities

Special education services are available for eligible students between the ages of three (3) and twenty-one (21). To qualify for services students must meet eligibility criteria set forth by the State of Ohio. Depending on the individual needs of the students involved, special education services may be provided within the district, or through cooperation of another public school district.

The extent of special education services and the location of delivery are determined by the Individual Education Program Team and are based on the students identified needs through the completion of an Evaluation Team Report.

Parents having a concern that their child has a disability should contact the building principal and ask for an Intervention Assistance Team meeting to discuss their concerns. Additional information regarding special education services, confidentiality and parent rights may be obtained by contacting the building principal or the Director of Pupil Services.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) protects the rights of students with disabilities and the rights of their parents. The procedural safeguards tell you about those rights. Your school must give you a copy of the guide once every year if your child receives special education services.

You also must receive a copy:

• If you ask for your child to be evaluated because you think your child may have a disability;
• If your school district wants to have your child evaluated because it thinks your child may have a disability;
• If you file (submit) a complaint – in writing – with the Office for Exceptional Children at the Ohio Department of Education, and it is your first complaint of the school year;
• If you file (submit) a request – in writing – with the Office for Exceptional Children at the Ohio Department of Education for a due process hearing regarding your child’s education, and it is the first time in the school year you have asked for one; 
• If your child has been removed from school for disciplinary (behavior) reasons – and your child has already been removed from school for 10 days or more during the current school year; or
• Any time you ask for a copy of the guide

The procedural safeguards can be found online at:  A Guide to Parent rights in special education

Woodridge Local Schools, in collaboration with the Summit Educational Service Center, provides a 5 star rated preschool program located at Woodridge Elementary School. Any student that resides in the district, starting at age 3, is eligible to attend the program.

The purpose of the preschool program is to:

1. Provide quality educational classroom and/or itinerant programming to preschool-aged children.
2. Provide education to children in an integrated setting where functional and developmentally appropriate activities are provided to facilitate the growth of each child.
3. Provide support and assistance to families in meeting the needs of the child.
4. Provide consultation and collaboration to families and schools in transitioning of children from preschool to kindergarten or other programs in the public school setting.
5. Provide screening, evaluation and or service coordination for children throughout their time in the program.

A major component of the Woodrige Preschool Program is the integration of children with special needs with typically developing children who serve as peer models. The curriculum is a combination of play-based, developmentally appropriate activities based on Ohio's Early Learning and Developmental Standards. The standards address all the essential domains of school readiness and include the following:

• Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Well-Being and Motor Development
• Approaches Toward Learning
• Language and Literacy Development
• Cognition and General Knowledge 

Woodridge Preschool classes meet for 190 minute sessions Monday through Thursday. The morning session is from 8:35 - 11:45 and the afternoon session runs from 12:15 - 3:25. There are two classrooms, both staffed by a highly qualified teacher and classroom assistant. Other available services based on identified student need include school psychology services, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

Acceptance into the preschool program occurs through one of two avenues:

Preschooler with a Disability: A child between the ages of three and five who demonstrate delays in one or more areas of development during the screening process. Areas of delay include communication, motor, social/emotional/behavior, adaptive, cognitive and visual/hearing impairments. This screening/evaluation process involves play-based activities, parent interview, formal and informal assessment. Please call the office if you suspect your child may have a disability.

OR

Peer Model: a child between the ages of three and five who does NOT have special needs can apply to the program as a peer model. Peer models must be completely toilet-trained and demonstrate good play skills (appropriate toy play, engagement with others, taking turns, etc.)

For more information about the preschool program please click on the links below or call the Pupil Services Department.

Acceleration Referral Form

This link provides the necessary form to begin the referral process by a parent or other named persons on the form for early entrance to kindergarten, individual subject acceleration, whole grade acceleration, or early high school graduation.

Bright Child, Gifted Learner

This insightful list highlights the differences between a High Achiever, Gifted Learner, and Creative Learner.

Early Entrance Packet

Complete this application if you feel that your child demonstrates the academic achievement, social, emotional, and physical maturity appropriate for kindergarten placement.  Based on state guidelines, your child must have a birth date that occurs between August 1 and January 1.  Return the application to the Woodridge Local School District Administration Building.

Student Acceleration Policy

This link provides details about the Woodridge Local School District’s procedures for the referral, evaluation, and placement of advanced learners in accelerated settings which aligns with Ohio Administrative Code 3301-35-06.

Liaisons Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness

The McKinney-Vento Act requires that community schools and traditional public school districts designate a homeless education liaison to help support students experiencing homelessness. Homeless education liaisons are responsible at the local level for supporting the identification, eligibility, enrollment, and access to academic and non-academic services for students experiencing homelessness.

• Dispute Resolution for Students Experiencing Homelessness
• Homeless Education Liaison: Role and Responsibilities
• Identification, Eligibility, and Enrollment of Students Experiencing Homelessness 
• ​Professional Development

Related Resources

• Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Supports for Families of Students Experiencing Homelessness
• Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Funding Services for Students Experiencing Homelessness
• Ohio Department of Education and Workforce: Transportation Supports for Students Experiencing Homelessness 

For more information on the McKinney-Vento Act and resources for implementation, call the NCHE Helpline at 800-308-2145 or email homeless@serve.org

Please visit the link below to download an informational brochure with rights, resources, and how you can help your child.
A Parent's Guide to the Rights of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
 

LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jessica Haynes
Director of Pupil Services

330-928-9074