Coker's Special Education
Staff
Special Education Teachers:
Special Education Assistants:
Karen Autenrieth
Reggie Hardeman
Mernee Hernandez
David Rafajko
Andy Schenk
Speech Pathologists:
Sylvia Sharp
Danielle Sullivan
Questions and Answers About Special Education
Q. What is special education?
A. Services provided by NEISD to help eligible students with disabilities and academic need become more successful in academic areas.
Q. Who can receive special education services?
A. To be eligible to receive special education services, a student must have been referred, assessed, and determined to have one or more of the following disabilities: Learning disability, physical disability (Including ADHD), emotional disturbance, speech, auditory, or visual impairment, mental retardation or autism.
Q. How does a child qualify for services?
A. A student must have a comprehensive individual assessment. In many cases, this will be done by NEISD personnel. Some diagnoses must be made by a medical doctor. Testing done by a non-district professional must be evaluated by a Northeast diagnostician in order to determine eligibility. Once this information is obtained, an ARD meeting will be held to determine what (if any) services will be provided.
Q. What is an ARD?
A. ARD stands for Admission, Review, and Dismissal. An ARD meeting is held when a child is being considered for special education services, at least once a year to review progress and set goals, and when a student is being considered for dismissal from the program. The committee consists of the child's homeroom teacher, a special education teacher, a school administrator or counselor, and parents or guardians. When testing is to be discussed, a NEISD assessment specialist will attend. Other specialists may be invited to attend. Any committee member may call an ARD at any time.
Q. What is an IEP?
A. IEP stands for Individual Education Plan. Each student enrolled in special education has an IEP developed by the ARD committee. This plan states broad goals and specific objectives for the student's educational progress.
Q. What types of services are available?
A. Special education services come in many forms at Coker.
Resource- Students are removed from the regular classroom to a special education classroom for one or more subjects. Curriculum and instruction are provided by the special education teacher to meet each student's individual needs.
Content Mastery Center (CMC) - When a student has trouble with an assignment provided by the homeroom teacher, she/he may go to a special education teacher who may provide help and or a modification of that assignment.
Q. How will my child's progress by reported to me?
A. The special education teacher will keep you informed of your child's progress toward his or her IEP goals each nine weeks.
Q. Will there be services available for my child when she/he goes to middle school?
A. Special education services are available for students who need them from age 3 through high school. ARD meetings will be held to ensure a smooth transition from elementary to middle school.
Q. Is speech therapy available at Coker?
A. Yes, speech therapy is provided for eligible children from 3 years of age through fifth grade. Services are provided during school hours. Speech therapy is available for language, articulation, stuttering, and voice disorders.
Q. I think my 4 year old has a speech problem. What should I do?
A. Speech therapy is available for eligible children beginning on the third birthday. An assessment may be initiated 120 days prior to the third birthday. Contact the speech-language pathologist at Coker and request a referral packet. After all required forms are completed and returned, Coker's speech-language pathologist will evaluate your child, conduct an ARD meeting, and if appropriate, initiate services.
Q. Is there a Special Education Preschool at Coker?
A. No. PPCD (Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities) classroom are located at Encino Park and certain other NEISD schools.
Q. How can my 3 to 5 year old qualify for Special Education Preschool Services?
A. Your child must first be evaluated by Coker's speech-language pathologist. Further assessment by a NEISD evaluator may be recommended. Contact Coker and request a referral packet. If your child is currently being served by an ECI program, contact your ECI representative for information about the transition to Coker.
Q. What is ECI?
A. Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a combination of services available to children birth to age 3 who have delays or disabilities. ECI services are federally and state funded and are provided at no cost to the family. Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center is the designated ECI site for Coker families. Call them at 614-3911 and ask for Social Services Department.
If you have questions about special education, please contact us at Coker.
The special education teacher will monitor the students performance in general education every 3rd and 6th weeks. The general education teacher will provide academic grades and for participation in extra curricular activities on the nine week report card.
