Robertson County
Special Services
Our Services
Special Education is a student-centered educational process
added to the regular school program to meet the needs of students who
have been identified as having a disability and having an educational
need for services.
The comprehensive educational program offered by ROBERTSON COUNTY
SPECIAL SERVICES (RCSS), provides appropriate services for all
students identified as having a disability.
The term "students with disabilities" refers to students who have
been evaluated and found to be eligible in accordance with federal and
state regulations and laws.
These include students with:
- auditory impairment
- autism
- deaf-blindness
- emotional disturbance
- learning disabilities
- mental retardation
- multiple disabilities
- non-categorical early childhood
- other health impairment
- orthopedic impairment
- speech impairment
- traumatic brain injury
- visual impairment
Because of these impairments, students need special educational and
related services in order to benefit from the educational process.
The Student-Centered Process Includes:
- Referral – Referrals may be made by the parent, community,
agencies, school personnel, individual, groups or organizations. A
referral should be made to the school principal.
Referrals are processed by a committee who will consider all
alternative programs. This committee reports its decision in writing,
and if the decision is for a referral to special education, the parent
is notified. At this time, the parent and student's rights are explained
and they receive a copy of “Procedural Safeguards.”
- Parental Consent – Parents must give their consent before any
tests are given.
- Assessment – Information is collected and studied about an
individual student to determine if he/she has a need or is eligible for
special education services.
Assessment for related services shall include a written report
demonstrating that the student meets the criteria for eligibility for
the related services and establishing that the service is necessary for
the student to benefit from instruction. The report must include
recommendations concerning the specific services to be provided.
- Placement and Planning
- Parents are notified in writing before an ARD committee meeting and
are invited to be a member of the team.
- Placement of a student referred for special education is determined
by the ARD committee.
- The committee makes its decisions based upon review of test results
and parental consent.
- The ARD committee develops an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).
A Disability May Be:
- mild or severe
- temporary or permanent
- physical, intellectual or emotional
- a condition that interferes with learning
Different types of special education programs are available because
students with disabilities have a wide range of individual needs. These
may include one or more of the following:
- Inclusion in the general education classroom
- Combination of instruction in both special education and general
education classrooms.
- Self-contained instructional classroom
- Vocational classes
- Home or hospital instruction
Definition of Terms:
ARD - Admission, Review and Dismissal
The ARD committee is made up of specially trained school personnel and
parents to determine the student's eligibility for admission to special
education, review the student's progress (at least once per year) or to
dismiss the student from special education services.
Individual Assessment
Testing to find strengths and weaknesses of each student. This includes
observation, physical examination (if needed), developmental history,
and intellectual and academic testing.
IEP - Individual Education Plan
If a student qualifies for special education, the ARD committee writes a
special instructional plan for the student. It is reviewed annually, as
needed or by request.
L.I.F.E - Learning In Functional Environments
The LIFE instructional program is designed to prepare individuals with
severe disabilities to function optimally in their everyday environment.
This functional skill approach insures instruction in domestic,
vocational, community and recreation or leisure skills.
