Exceptional Child Support Services
Video: 504 Plan vs. IEP:
Pathways to Graduation at PLP
There are three pathways that students make take to graduate with a Pine Lake Preparatory diploma. They are college focus, vocational focus, and life skills and vocational focus.
Future Ready (College focus)
Update coming soon
Occupational Course of Study (Vocational focus)
Summary:
The Occupational Course of Study is intended to meet the needs of a small group of students with disabilities who need a modified curriculum that focuses on post-school employment and independent living. The OCS is a modified standard course of study consisting of fifteen courses in English, mathematics, science, occupational preparation and social studies. Students are also required to complete career/technical education credits, healthful living and electives, as needed to complete local graduation requirements. Each student must complete 300 hours of school-based vocational training, 240 hours of community-based vocational training and 360 hours of paid employment. Each student must complete a career portfolio documenting completion of course of study requirements. The IEP Team, which includes parents and the student, makes recommendations as to the appropriateness of the OCS for a particular student based on his/her post-school transition needs and goals.
Note: The course work for OCS does not include the minimum requirement for entrance into college.
Leads to: NC High School Future Ready Diploma
Extended Standards (Life skills and vocational focus)
Summary:
A small percentage of students have disabilities that impact their educational progress such that graduation with a North Carolina High School Diploma (either through the Future-Ready Core or the Occupational Course of Study) is not practical. These students typically have more significant cognitive disabilities and often have additional disabilities. They still are taught content linked to the general curriculum, the Extended Content Standards. The extended content standards also address other educational needs to prepare them for real-life areas such as employment, independent living and recreation/leisure. These students can earn a Graduation Certificate if they must successfully complete 21 course credits in high school and pass all requirements of their Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Leads to: NC Graduation Certificate
(Adapted from CSD Pathways to Graduation [Greg Cain, author])
Pine Lake Preparatory is a public charter school that meets the needs of all students that are registered to attend classes. Pine Lake Preparatory offers services that are comparable to that of your local public school systems, including related services. Pine Lake Prep services the student in the least restrictive environment that is possible for your child. Pine Lake Preparatory has a diverse staff of EC professionals that are able to provide your child with the individual support they need to be successful. If you have any questions about your child and their potential status as an EC student, please contact:
Luke Ruggieri (luke.ruggieri@pinelakeprep.org)
EC Director
Luke.Ruggieri@pinelakeprep.org
Student Support Services Fax
704-919-5884
Resources:
The mission of the Exceptional Children Division is to ensure that students with disabilities develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, and vocationally through the provision of an appropriate individualized program in the least restrictive environment.
- What is the difference between a Section 504 Plan vs. Individual Education Plan (IEP) https://www.understood.org/articles/en/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans
Parent Rights and Responsibilities in Special Education Handbook
This handbook is designed to support families with the understanding of the rights and responsibilities specific to the special education process. Acronyms and terms often used in special education and resources can be found in the appendices.
If, at any time, you suspect your student may have a disability and is in need of special education and/or related services, you may request an evaluation, in writing, to your student's school principal, teacher, or a member of PLP's EC Department.
(English)
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/media/11182/download?attachment
(Spanish)
https://www.dpi.nc.gov/media/11183/download?attachment
Pine Lake Preparatory program for Exceptional Children is dedicated to ensuring that all students with disabilities will have access to a full continuum of educational opportunities and services based on individual needs. Pine Lake Preparatory provides special education services and related services according to the federal mandates of the Individual with Disabilities Education Act. This department also consults with the counseling department as needed on 504 plans that are written for students with a medical or mental impairment that significantly impairs a major life activity. This plan is part of the Rehabilitation Act of1993. Pine Lake Preparatory also provides support and training to the regular education teachers as needed to implement interventions, accommodations and modifications in the regular education classroom setting. The Public Schools of North Carolina, Exceptional Children Division provides local units with detailed policies for the delivery of special education services. These rules and regulations are detailed in Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, Amended June 2010
Parent Contact for the Exceptional Children's Department:
Luke Ruggieri
luke.ruggieri@pinelakeprep.org
EC Department Fax
704-919-5884
Project Child Find
What is Project Child Find?
An effort coordinated by your local school system and the Exceptional Child Division, State Department of Public Instruction, to:
- Locate and identify children and youth ages birth through 21 with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services.
- Inform parents and/or guardians of the services available from their local school system and other state and community agencies.
Who Are the Children?
Children and youth who have been diagnosed or are suspected to have intellectual, physical, or emotional disabilities and are unable to benefit from a regular school program without special assistance.
What Help is Available?
- A complete evaluation, and if appropriate:
- An Individualized Education Program for children with a disability beginning at age three,
- An Individual Family Service Plan for each child with a disability birth through 2, or
- A referral to other agencies when needed.
For further information regarding Child Find or if you suspect your student may have a disability and need special education and/or related services, please contact a member of the EC team listed below.
Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) for Families
What is NC MTSS?
Family engagement within an MTSS is defined as the active and meaningful partnerships that educators build and maintain with students' families for the purpose of supporting student learning. It embodies the idea that all parties are equally invested in the student's educational experience and all parties bring knowledge and skills of equal value to the table to work together. This linked infographic is intended to support NC families in understanding what NC educators are referring to when they are talking about an MTSS.
What is "support"?
NC schools that are implementing an MTSS may talk about support for students. To further define that support, NC organizes these supports around the instruction, the curriculum, and the environment. This linked infographic is intended to promote understanding and conversations around how school teams are providing these supports to all, some, and a few students based on needs.
NC schools that are implementing an MTSS may talk about support for students. To further define that support, NC organizes these supports around the instruction, the curriculum, and the environment. This linked infographic is intended to promote understanding and conversations around how school teams are providing these supports to all, some, and a few students based on needs.
Child Services Team Contacts
Kimberlee Strickfaden, Student Support Services Coordinator kimberlee.strickfaden@pinelakeprep.org
Student Support Services Fax
704-919-5884
704-919-5884
Section 504 Plan Coordinator Contacts
Laura Finney, Lower School Counselor Laura.Finney@pinelakeprep.org
Heather Craddock, Middle School Student Services Coordinator Heather.Craddock@pinelakeprep.org
Dana Catchpole, Upper School Counselor Dana.Catchpole@pinelakeprep.org
Exceptional Children’s Department Contacts
Luke Ruggieri, EC Director luke.ruggieri@pinelakeprep.
Anna Gordon LS EC Lead anna.gordon@pinelakeprep.org
Eric Elliott LS ECS eric.elliott@pinelakeprep.org
Lisa Perry MS EC Lead lisa.perry@pinelakeprep.org
Dr. Kimberly Jurek US EC Lead kimberly.jurek@pinelakeprep
Christine Bezer US OCS christine.bezer@pinelakeprep.
Grace Gonzalez US ECS grace.gonzalez@pinelakeprep.