Privacy Rights of Parents and Students

All information gathered about your child by the public schools is subject to the confidentiality provisions contained in federal and state laws. Berwick Area School District has policies and procedures in effect governing the collection, maintenance, destruction and disclosure of third party information. Berwick Area School District protects the confidentiality of students’ records. Educational records and personally identifiable information cannot be released without written parental consent or, if the student is over the age of 18, the consent of the student.

Notice to Parents of Children Who Reside in the Berwick Area School District

In compliance with state and federal law, notice is hereby given by the Berwick Area School District that it conducts ongoing identification activities as part of its school program for the purpose of identifying students who may be in need of special education and related services (eligible students). If your child is identified by the District as possibly in need of such services, you will be notified of procedures, individualized services, and programs for children who are determined to need specially designed instruction due to the following conditions:

Autism
Deaf-Blindness
Visual Impairment including Blindness
Hearing Impairment
Mental Retardation
Multiple Disabilities
Orthopedic Impairment
Other Health Impairments
Physical Disabilities
Emotional Disturbances
Specific Learning Disabilities
Speech and Language Impairment
Traumatic Brain Injury

If you believe that your school-age child may be in need of special education services and related programs, or young child (age 3 to school-age) may be in need of early intervention, screening and evaluation processes designed to assess the needs for the child and his/her eligibility are available to you at no cost, upon written request. You may request screening and evaluation at any time, whether or not your child is enrolled in the District’s public school program. Requests for evaluation and screening are to be made in writing to the Director of Special Education.

In compliance with state and federal law, the Berwick Area School District will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student, the child must be school age with physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services and protections for “protected handicapped students” are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.

Public Notice for Chapter 15

In compliance with state and federal regulation at C.F.R. Part 104, the Berwick Area School District will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities. The identification, evaluation and education of students who are qualified disabled persons within the meaning of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 will be provided in accordance to the regulations. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student, the child must be school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in, or access to, any aspect of the school program. These services and protections for “protected handicapped students” (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973) cover students who are disabled but do not need special education services.

For additional information regarding chapter 15 service contracts (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 1973) in the Berwick Area School District, contact the Director of Special Education.

Procedural Safeguards

Information about parents’ rights, mediation, due process, special education programs, and educational records is available upon request by contacting the Special Education Department at 570-759-6400, ext. 3538.