Page 20 - McDowell Family Hanbook

Special Education Services

Hudson City Schools provides services for students with disabilities as mandated by
the federal law Individuals with Disabilities Educational Improvement Act (IDEA)
of 2004 and Ohio’s Operating Standards. Students must meet state and federal
criteria to be eligible for special education services under IDEA. A team,
consisting of the parents, regular education and special education teachers, school
psychologist, administrator (usually the Principal or Assistant Principal) considers
evaluation and testing information and determines if students meet the criteria to
be eligible for services based on 13 different disability categories. Once a student
qualifies for special education services based on state and federal criteria, an
Individualized Educational Plan or IEP is developed for that child to meet his or her
individual needs. Mandated timelines must be followed for each step in this
process.
Public schools are also governed by the requirements of Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments
Act of 2008, which outline protections for qualified students with disabilities.
Section 504 requires school districts provide a free, appropriate public education
to qualified students who have a physical or mental impairment, substantially
limiting one or more major life activities. These laws provide protections and
services to eligible students.

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