WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES FOR  DETERMINING 
THE NEED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES?

Indiana State Board of Education Special Education Rules Title 511 Article 7 Rules 32 -47, have set forth a new process to determine a student’s eligibility for Specific Learning Disability. The regulations state that the determination of a learning disability would be evident through either:

• an assessment of a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement or both, relative to age; state standards or intellectual ability or
• through insufficient progress to meet age or state standards when using a process based on the student’s response to scientific, research based interventions.

The latter process referred to as early intervening services or response to intervention involves school staff planning and collecting data regarding the student’s response to scientific research based interventions. As students participate in this process, it may become apparent that certain students have more significant needs and an evaluation is indicated. The following information outlines this process.

Helpful Resources and Links

*Please note that the following resources and links are not meant as endorsements by
the School Town of Munster, but merely as information that may be helpful to our families and visitors.

• Indiana Department of Education 
  Article 7, Procedural Safeguards, Parent Rights and other information.
   
• Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities 
  Information on Medicaid Waivers and other valuable information
   
• Indiana Institute on Disability and Community 
  Providing Hoosiers with disability-related information and services from birth through older adulthood. Click on their name to visit their webpage.
   
• IN*Source / Indiana Resource Center for Families with Special Needs
  Helps parents of children with disabilities navigate the complicated special education process in the state of Indiana. We help bridge the gap between schools and parents and we strive to connect the dots that become the individual path to success for children with disabilities.
   
• Cooperative Special Recreation Initiative (CSRI) - Email csri2004@yahoo.com to join their email list.
   
• Autism Support Network 
  Designed by those living with ASD, for those with ASD and those seeking social connection, peer guidance and a feeling of community with others.
   
• Autism Distance Education Parent Training (ADEPT) 
  Distance parent training module from the UC Davis MIND Institute UCEDD providing several strategies for teaching functional skills for parents.
   
• Indiana Resource Center for Autism  (IRCA) - Free Summer Family Support Webinars. 
   
• GRASP
  The Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership 
   
• Down Syndrome Association of NWI 
  Serving Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton Counties.
   
• National Down Syndrome Congress  
  They provide information, advocacy and support concerning all aspects of life for individuals with Down syndrome, and work to create a national climate in which all people will recognize and embrace the value and dignity of people with Down syndrome.
   
• AccessAbilities, Inc.
  Focusing on the provision of services that emphasize best practices, comprehensiveness and overcoming possible barriers between human potential and physical or cognitive abilities.
   
• Center for Possibilities
  Their mission is to improve the quality of life for children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
   
• Innovations in Learning
  Dedicated to implementing best practice standards in helping consumers achieve their individual potential throughout the developmental life span. 
   
• Nat'l Dissemination Center for Children w/Disabilities (NICHCY) 
  Serving the nation as a central source of information on disabilities. Now known as Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR).
   
• National Autism Association of NWI 
  Providing real help and hope through webinars, downloadable toolkits and support.
   
• Asperger's Syndrome support at Lakeview Health 
  A  24/7 live private and confidential chat option is available.
   
• Share Foundation with the Handicapped 
  Assists developmentally disabled/other-abled people and their families in many different areas. They also offer mini-camps through their Camp Sharing Meadows property. 
• Opportunity Enterprises 
  Offers innovative and impactful services for individuals with a wide range of physical and developmental disabilities.
   
• Hannah's Hope 
  Aims to assist children with special needs obtain various therapies and costly medical equipment. 
   
• SouthSTAR Services 
  Provides children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities choices and opportunities to enrich their lives and maximize independence in their pursuit of vocation, community living and social integration. For more information, contact Shannon Stoisch at 219-331-5233. 

PLEASE CONTACT THE EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVERS OFFICE
AT 219.836.7256 TO REQUEST A PAPER COPY.

BBDS is a program of the Division of Disability & Rehabilitative Services, a division of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration. BDDS provides services for individuals with developmental disabilities that enable them to live as independently as possible in their communities. BDDS assists individuals in receiving community supports and residential services using a person-centered plan to help determine which services are needed and who can best provide them. BDDS also monitors the quality of care and the facilities of those who are approved to provide these services in Indiana.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Jana Maric at 219-836-7256 X4102 jmaric@munster.us.

Click here to to learn more about the State of Indiana's Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services. 

In 2015 the Indiana General Assembly passed House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1108. This law put in place an official definition for dyslexia in Indiana. This definition is based on the International Dyslexia Association’s definition of dyslexia. When referring to dyslexia, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) uses the language from HEA 1108.

House Enrolled Act 1108 defines dyslexia as: A specific learning disability that: (1) is neurological in origin and characterized by: difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and poor spelling and decoding abilities; (2) typically results from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction; (3) may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede the growth of vocabulary and background knowledge; and (4) may require the provision of special education services after an eligibility determination is made in accordance with Article 7.

Beginning in the 2019 ‐ 2020 school year, Senate Enrolled Act 217 requires schools to universally screen all kindergarten, first, and second‐grade students annually to identify and predict students who may be “at some risk” for dyslexia. 

STM will utilize universal screeners approved by the Indiana Department of Education that includes indicators for dyslexia that include:

1. Phonological and phonemic awareness
2. Sound symbol recognition
3. Alphabet knowledge
4. Decoding skills
5. Rapid naming skills
6. Encoding skills

If a student is determined to be at risk for dyslexia following this screening, a Level I dyslexia screening will be administered with parent consent. If a student's dyslexia screening indicates the need for dyslexia intervention services for the student, the dyslexia intervention may include one or more of the following:

1. Explicit, direct instruction that is systematic, sequential, and cumulative and follows a logical plan of presenting the alphabetic principle that targets the specific needs of the student without presuming prior skills or knowledge of the student;
2. Individualized instruction to meet the specific needs of the student in a setting that uses intensive, highly concentrated instruction methods and materials that maximize student engagement;
3. Meaning‐based instruction directed at purposeful reading and writing with an emphasis on comprehension and composition;
4. Instruction that incorporates the simultaneous and use of two or more sensory pathways during teacher presentations and student practice; and
5. Other instructional approaches as determined appropriate by educational team.

What if I think my child has special needs?

• Children ages 0 to 3 years:

Your child may be eligible for early intervention through Northwest Indiana First Steps.
To make a referral, call (219) 662-7790 or visit their website.

• Children ages 3 to 5 years:

Call the School Town of Munster Early Childhood Assessment Team at (219) 838-2060 ext. 6206 or email Claire Starcevich.

An Early Childhood Team member will speak to you regarding your concerns and schedule an appointment for your child to attend a screening. Screenings are brief sessions where the child works with a therapist (usually a speech-language pathologist) to get an overview of the child’s abilities in one or more areas of development.

Following the results of the screening, you will receive a written summary of the results and recommendations. Should an initial evaluation be recommended following the completion of the screening, the educational evaluation process will be initiated. The initial educational evaluation is conducted to determine if your child meets eligibility criteria set forth by the State of Indiana’s special education laws, for special education.

Some of the eligibility categories that are considered special education include but are not limited to: 

• Speech Impairment
• Language Impairment
• Developmental Delay
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Other Health Impairment

Based on the results of the screening and the concerns you have regarding your child’s development, one or more areas of eligibility may be considered for your child’s educational evaluation.

Please visit the CDC Website for more information regarding developmental milestones.

We recognize each child is a unique person with an individual pattern and timing of growth along with individual personality, learning style and family background. Assessment of the student’s strengths and needs is necessary to determine instructional needs.

Young children learn most effectively through a concrete, play-oriented approach. Their development and learning occur throughout daily activities and routines. The program provides a developmentally appropriate curriculum for the age span of the children being served and is implemented with attention to the different needs, interests and developmental levels of each child. An integrated approach is used to encourage the children’s physical, emotional, social, communicative and cognitive development. Emphasis is placed on providing materials and activities that are concrete, relevant to the children, and encourage self-directed play and active exploration.

Indiana Student Performance Readiness and Observation of Understanding Tool (ISPROUT) is utilized to measure skills in children from infancy to kindergarten. ISPROUT is aligned to the Indiana Early Learning Foundations. 

ISPROUT will be utilized for Indiana students receiving services as part of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to meet the reporting needs of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The web or app based instrument is utilized by teachers to rate students based on their ongoing observations of children engaged in typical daily routines and activities.

ISPROUT for Families