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Special Services Department
The Special Services Department of Tumwater School District welcomes you to our site. We serve students with special needs in a variety of programs to meet their individual needs in a caring, engaging environment. Students from birth to age 21 identified for special education receive services through the special services department. A student qualifies for special education if they have a disability, an adverse impact from the disability, and a need for specially designed instruction.
Referral
Children suspected of having a disability should be referred to their school team in writing of the concern. Preschool age children should be referred to the district Childfind for screening. The team has 25 school days whether or not to evaluate the child for a suspected disability to determine if they qualify for special education services. The referral team includes the parent/guardian in the process.
Evaluation
An evaluation of suspected areas of disability occurs within 35 school days of the signed parental consent for evaluation after the referral has determined a need for evaluation. The evaluation team may include individuals from multiple disciplines based on the areas of concern. After evaluation, the team, including the parents/guardians will gather to determine if the student is eligible for special education based on the three prongs noted above (a disability, an adverse impact, and a need for specially designed instruction).
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
After an evaluation has determined a student eligible for special education services in areas of specially designed instruction and possible related services, the IEP team convenes within 30 days to write an annual plan. This plan includes information on the student’s strengths, their identified areas of need, goals, service delivery and accommodations. The IEP team always includes parent/guardian, special education teacher, general education teacher, and district representative, but may also include additional specialists who may be involved in the delivery of services for the student. Services do not begin in special education until a signed parental consent for placement occurs at the initial IEP. Every year, the IEP team gathers to write the plan.
Procedural Safeguards Information
School districts must provide parents a copy of the Notice of Special Education Procedural Safeguards.
Below is the link to access a digital copy of Procedural Safeguards:
Tumwater School District
Board Policy
REQUIRED NOTIFICATION OF ISOLATION OR RESTRAINT
OF STUDENTS WITH IEPs OR SECTION 504 PLANS
It is the policy of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors that the district maintains a safe learning environment while treating students with dignity and respect. All students in the district, including those with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), or a plan developed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504 Plan) will remain free from unreasonable restraint, restraint devices, isolation, and other use of physical force. Under no circumstances will these techniques be used as a form of discipline or punishment.
This policy is intended to address district students. It is not intended to prevent or limit the use of restraint or other reasonable force as necessary with adults or other youth from outside the district as allowed by law.
Use of restraint, isolation, and other forms of reasonable force may be used on any student when necessary to control spontaneous behavior that poses an “imminent likelihood of serious harm” as defined by RCW 70.96B.010 and Chapter 393-172A WAC and explained in the procedure accompanying this policy. Serious harm includes physical harm to self, another, or district property. Staff will closely monitor such actions to prevent harm to the students and will use the minimum amount of restraint and isolation appropriate to protect the safety of students and staff. The restraint, isolation, and other forms of reasonable force will be discontinued when the likelihood of serious harm has dissipated.
The superintendent or a designee will develop procedures to implement this policy, including review, reporting and parent/guardian notification of incidents involving restraint or isolation as required by law.
Cross References:
2161 – Special Education and Related Service for Eligible Students
2162 – Education of Students With Disabilities Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Legal References: WAC 392-400-235 Discipline—Conditions and limitations.
WAC 392-172A: Rules for the Provision of Special Education
RCW 28A.600.485: Restraint of students with individualized education programs or plans developed under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973-Procedures Summary of incidents of isolation or restraint – Publishing to web site. [as amended by SHB 1240].
RCW 28A.600.486: District policy on the use of isolation and restraint — Notice to parents and guardians of children who have individualized education programs or plans developed under section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973.
RCW 28A.155.210: Use of restraint or isolation-Requirement for procedures to notify parent or guardian.
RCW 28A.150.300: Corporal punishment prohibitedAdoption of policy.
RCW 9A.16.100: Use of Force on Children-Policy-Actions presumed unreasonable.
RCW 9A.16.020: Use of Force-When lawful. ESHB 1688 Student Restraint & Isolation Reporting.
ADOPTION DATE: August 28, 2014 April 11, 2019
