Special Services in RSU 68

Phone: (207) 564-6535 opt. 4     Fax: (207) 564-6531

The Special Services Department welcomes you to contact us for further information concerning any of the comprehensive support services available in RSU 68.

These services include:

• English Language Learners (ELL) services for students whose first language is not English and are identified as being limited English proficient.
• Section 504 accommodations for students who have disability which significantly impacts a life function.
• Support during disruptions in a student’s education due to homelessness, military deployment of a parent/guardian or incarceration.
• Special Education services for students identified as having a disability and requires individualized instruction in order to receive an appropriate education.

We are fortunate to have an outstanding staff, which works to provide appropriate educational programming to students who are identified with special needs. RSU 68 staff includes a social worker, speech pathologist, occupational therapist as well as a physical therapist contracted through Mayo Regional Hospital, along with a number of paraprofessionals and five special education teachers. We also work closely with Foxcroft Academy to meet the needs of all secondary students that reside within the district.

RSU 68 seeks to ensure that all students within its jurisdiction are identified, located and evaluated who are school aged (5 through the school year they turn 20 and who are in need of special education and supportive services. Those students may include student attending private schools within RSU 68 or students that are being home schooled or who are in home schooling programs who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education and support services. Identification of students with disabilities and programming for such students occurs after and appropriate evaluation and the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team makes a determination of eligibility.

Parents, physicians, private school educators or other persons who are aware of a child who may require special education and support services are asked to contact the Special Services Office.

RSU 68 will strive to provide a linguistically and culturally rich learning and teaching environment. It is the policy of RSU 68 to comply with all federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against students on the basis of all civil rights categories.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal privacy law that gives parents certain protections with regard to their children’s education records, such as report cards, transcripts, disciplinary records, contact and family information and class schedules. As a parent, you have the right to review your child’s education records and to request changes under limited circumstances. To protect your child’s privacy, the law generally requires schools to ask for written consent before disclosing your child’s personally identifiable information to individuals other than you.

McKinney-Vento

Congress established the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to ensure the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in school. The Act defines who is considered homeless, and provides for certain rights for homeless students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, people living in the following situations are considered homeless: living in a motel or hotel due to a loss of housing or financial hardship, in an emergency shelter, transitional housing facility, abandoned in a hospital, sharing another family’s house or apartment, in a car, park, camping ground, street, public space, substandard housing, abandoned building, bus or train station, moving from place to place (couch surfing), public or private place not meant to be used as a regular place for people to sleep.

School Requirements

The McKinney-Vento Act provides for certain rights for homeless students. These rights include waiving certain requirements. The Act also states homeless students may attend their school of origin or the school where they are temporarily residing. Homeless students and their families are provided a written statement of their rights when they enroll. Homeless students have the right to enroll without school, medical, or other records required by the district, and have the right to transportation to and from school. These and other rights can be found at the Maine Department of Education.

For additional information please contact RSU 68’s McKinney-Vento Liaison Michelle Mason.