Programs for Students with Special Needs

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

Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Deafness, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech and Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment.

If you believe that your school age child may be in need of special education services and related programs, screening and evaluation processes designed to assess the needs of the child and his/heer eligibility are available to you at no cost, upon written request. Early intervention services are available for young children (age 3 to school age). 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 should be made in writing to the Director of Special Education at 1516 Sycamore Street, Bethlehem, PA. 18017

In compliance with state and federal law, the Parkland 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 of school age with a 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.

All information gathered about your child is subject to the confidentiality provisions contained in federal and state law. The district has policies and procedures in effect governing the collection, maintenance, destruction and disclosure to third parties of this information. The records of each student with an exceptionality (special education) are reviewed at the end of each school year. Information the district no longer deems necessary to provide appropriate programming is discarded. Parents may claim discarded records by contacting the director of student services (610-861-0500) prior to June 1 each school year. For information about those policies and procedures, about rights of confidentiality and access to educational records, as well as for further information on rights of parents and children, provision of services, evaluation and screening, you may contact in writing the Director of Special Education, 1516 Sycamore St, Bethlehem, PA 18017, or any building principal.