Pupil Services Center

Director of Pupil Services – Rebecca Gaschel-Clark
Executive Secretary to the Director – Jody Pegorari
 
Supervisor of Special Ed – Ashley Holmes
Administrative Assistant to the Supervisor – Nadine Andrews

Special Education Eligibility
According to federal and state law, the IDEA Child Find requirement obligates states and school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate children from birth through age 21 who may have a disability and may require special education and related services.

Under federal and state law, a student may be eligible for special education when the student meets the eligibility criteria for one or more of the disability categories listed below, the disability adversely affects the student’s educational performance, and the student requires specially designed instruction as a result of the disability. Eligibility requires both identification of a qualifying disability and a demonstrated need for specially designed instruction.

The disability categories recognized under federal and state law include:

● Autism
● Deaf-Blindness
● Developmental Delay (applicable to ages 3–9)
● Emotional Disability
● Hearing Impairment
● Intellectual Disability
● Multiple Disabilities
● Orthopedic Impairment
● Other Health Impairment (OHI)
● Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
● Speech or Language Impairment
● Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
● Visual Impairment, including Blindness

Special education services are available to eligible students ages 3 through 21. Eligibility is determined through a comprehensive evaluation and, in Connecticut, by the Planning and Placement Team (PPT). The PPT considers the student’s disability, educational performance, and individual needs to determine whether the student requires specially designed instruction in order to access, participate in, and make progress in the general education curriculum.

Special education means specially designed instruction, special classes, programs, and related services provided at no cost to parents to meet the unique educational needs of a child with a disability. For additional information, please refer to the Connecticut State Department of Education’s A Parent’s Guide to Special Education, which provides information about the special education process and includes a glossary of important terms

If you have concerns about your child’s progress or educational needs, please begin by reaching out to your child’s classroom teacher. The teacher can provide guidance regarding appropriate interventions, supports, and next steps, including whether a referral for an evaluation may be appropriate. If you have additional questions or would like further information, please contact Rebecca Gaschel-Clark, Director of Pupil Services, at (860) 824-5639, ext. 4.

We invite you to learn more about our schools by visiting their websites. If you are interested in learning more, please contact the school directly to schedule a visit or appointment:

Cornwall Consolidated School
Kent Center School
Lee H. Kellogg School
North Canaan Elementary School
Salisbury Central School
Sharon Center School
Housatonic Valley Regional High School