Special Education
Referrals & Evaluation
Special Education provides services to students with certain disabilities that are specified in state and federal laws. Services are free of charge to the parent. Anybody may refer a student for an evaluation to determine if the student qualifies for services. The referral needs to be in writing and should be directed to the student's principal or Social Service Coordinator. If you suspect that your child has a disability and might require special education services and your child is not currently enrolled you may direct the referral to the Student Support Services office.
Eligibility for special education services requires that an evaluation be conducted. The result of the evaluation needs to show that the child has a disability as defined in Chapter 392-172 of the Washington Administrative Code AND that this disability impacts the child's progress and participation in their general education classroom. If the child is a preschooler, the disability would need to cause the child to fall behind in activities that children without a disability are able to do.
Individual Education Plans (IEP's)
Services that eligible students receive address their individual needs. These services are outlined in an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) that school staff and parents jointly develop. The district offers a continuum of services and placement options in order to address unique individual needs.
There is a number of rules and regulations that dictate the Special Education Procedures. They are outlined in WAC 392-172A and are written in legal language. Please feel free to contact one of us at the Student Support Services office or the Social Service Coordinator at your child's school for some simplified language. Another source of help for interpretation of these rules is an organization called PAVE at 1-800-5-PARENT. Further information may also be obtained from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
School-to-School Transitions
Birth-to-Three to Special Education Preschool
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Your Birth-to-Three team will hold a transition conference with you three months before your child turns three years old.
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A special education evaluation will take place prior to your student’s third birthday. Our Early Learning team will reach out to schedule and complete this evaluation.
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If your student qualifies for special education services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be developed that will begin on the student’s third birthday.
Special Education Preschool to Kindergarten
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Your student’s IEP team will discuss a tentative plan for kindergarten services with you in the spring prior to the start of kindergarten.
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Your student’s IEP team will work with you and the anticipated kindergarten team to develop an IEP that describes kindergarten-based services.
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Your family will be invited to attend a transition meeting in the spring where you meet the kindergarten team and hear about services available to your child.
Elementary to Middle School & Middle to High School
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Transition Meeting with Receiving Team: This is an informal opportunity to meet the team who will be working with your student in the fall. These can take place remotely or in-person at the new school.
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IEP or IEP Amendment Meeting: At some point during the school year, your student’s IEP team will meet to revise their IEP to include a second service matrix which will include the services to be provided both for the remainder of the current year and the next school year.
High School to Post-High School Programming
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Your student’s IEP team will begin to consider what post-high school programming might be appropriate (Transition Academy, Project Search, etc.) and assist with any applicable application processes.
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Transition Meeting with Receiving Team: This is an informal opportunity to meet the team who will be working with your student in the fall. These can take place remotely or in-person at the new school.
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IEP or IEP Amendment Meeting: At some point during the school year, your student’s IEP team will meet to revise their IEP to include a second service matrix which will include the services to be provided both for the remainder of the current year and the next school year.
Child Find Notice
Are you worried about your child’s development? Does your child have a medical disorder or birth defect that interferes with their development?
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Does the child seem to have hearing or vision issues?
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Does your child have difficulty communicating with people outside the family?
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Does your child have difficulty keeping up with other children their age?
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Does your child have concerning behaviors?
Any child, birth to five, whose family or caregivers have concerns about their child’s development and live in Olympia School District Boundaries can contact our office to receive a free Child Find Screening.*
What happens during a Child Find Screening?
The purpose of a Child Find Screening is to identify issues that may affect your child’s learning, growth, and development and to help parents identify their child’s strengths and weaknesses.
During the screening, your child may stack small blocks, cut with scissors, draw, count, name colors, jump, and have fun! You may also be asked questions about your child's development and medical background.
After the screening, someone will talk to you about the results and you may be given suggestions, a referral for more testing, or scheduled to have skills rechecked later. You will have the chance to ask any questions about your child’s development. The whole process takes about one hour.
Where can I go for screening?
All school districts in Washington State have Child Find Screenings available.
For more information and to schedule a screening in your school district, please contact:
- Olympia School District Early Learning Line at (360) 596-7539
- Olympia School District Early Learning Email at [email protected]
If your family is living in a temporary situation, you may contact the local district for a screening.
*South Sound Parent to Parent is the Washington State Early Intervention Provider Agency for students age 0, 1, and 2 years old for students who live in the Olympia metropolitan area but do not reside within Olympia School District Boundaries. Please contact South Sound Parent to Parent at (360) 352-1126 or use their website to refer your child for services.
WAC 392-172A-02040 - School districts shall conduct child find activities calculated to reach all students with a suspected disability for the purpose of locating, evaluating and identifying students who are in need of special education and related services, regardless of the severity of their disability.
Procedural Safeguards
Notice of Procedural Safeguards, OSD Version
Notice of Procedural Safeguards, OSPI Version Other Language Translations (Khmer, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese)
Notice Concerning Educational Records
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") the following rights with respect to the student's education records. As a parent you have to be informed of these rights every year. For additional FERPA information visit U.S. Department of Education FERPA site.
Our Special Education Programs
Special education classrooms at elementary level includes supporting the Infant/Toddler Preschool Program, DLC Program (Developmental Learning Classroom, which serves students with moderate cognitive delays), Life Skills Program (students with significant cognitive delays), GROW (Growth, respect, opportunity and wonder). At middle and/ or high level, special education classrooms include supporting the DLC Program, Life Skills Program, HOPE Program (Help Our People Excel for students with significant behavior disabilities).
Contact Information:
Student Support
111 Bethel Street NE
Olympia, WA 98506
Phone: (360) 596-7530
Fax: (360) 596-7531