The first row is for desktop, and second row is for Tab and Mobile.
You can right click on this text and use Navigator for easy editing. This text message is hidden on all screens using Advanced/responsive tab on left.
Special Education
Policies
Like Charlotte Mason, we aim to offer a rich, living, liberal arts education to all students, no matter their backgrounds or abilities. We specialize our relational education practices for some students who receive special education and related services because of one or more disabilities.
Gillingham Charter School, either directly or through Schuylkill Intermediate Unit #29, provides special education and related services that are required by children with disabilities. If you believe that your child may be in need of a special education program, a screening and special education evaluation are available to you at no cost through Gillingham Charter School. The special education evaluation will determine if your child qualifies for special education services and demonstrates a need for those services. Typically, special education services involve modifying instruction and adapting materials to better meet your child’s identified educational needs.
In order to receive these services, a team of experts trained in assessing children with disabilities must evaluate your child. This team will determine if your child has a disability and, if so, is in need of special education and related services. As the parent, you are an important member of your child’s evaluation team.
Before Gillingham Charter School can proceed with an evaluation, it will notify you in writing of the specific types of tests and procedures it plans to use, and of your rights throughout its process. The evaluation cannot be completed until the district receives a signed written notice, indicating your consent to the proposed evaluation.
If after an evaluation, your child is found to have a disability and in need of special education services, Gillingham Charter School will develop, with your participation, an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is a written document that specifically describes the services your child needs and will receive as a result of the evaluation. The services in the IEP will be offered to your child in a public school. If you choose not to accept the services specified in the IEP, your child may be eligible for equitable participation services provided by the Intermediate Unit outside of the public schools. If you are interested in finding out more about the special education services, the evaluation process, and screening activities please contact the Lead Special Education Teacher.
Program Types
Learning support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for academic support.
- Gifted support for or students who qualify as gifted. Our programming includes differentiated and/or specialized instruction, accommodations and creative programs that engage and stimulate the mind of gifted students.
- Emotional support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for the development of positive behavior and social skills.
- Life skill support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for the development of independent living skills.
- Autistic support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for the development of communication and social interaction skills.
- Multiple disability support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for the development of communication, mobility, and self-care skills.
- Physical support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for physical support and accommodations.
- Deaf and hearing impaired support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for hearing impaired and academic support
- Blind and visually impaired support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for visually impaired, academic, and orientation/mobility support.
- Speech and language support for children with disabilities that demonstrate a need for development of language and communication skills.
- Psychological services for children with disabilities and children thought to be exceptional.
- Related services for children with disabilities, such as occupational therapy and physical therapy within the educational setting only.
NILD Educational Therapy®
Additionally, Gillingham Charter School has certified NILD Therapists and can provide NILD Therapy. NILD Educational Therapy® focuses on developing four key components:
- Cognition
- Perception
- Academics
- Emotions
The focus of NILD Educational Therapy® is the development of clear, efficient thinking. Students are given tools to enable them to overcome specific learning weaknesses. Tutoring typically focuses on content while educational therapy builds efficient learning processes. NILD Educational Therapy® teaches students how to think rather than what to think. NILD Educational Therapy® is skill-oriented, improving basic learning skills so students can learn and retain content.
Students become better able to:
- stay focused on the teacher’s voice
- accurately hear and remember what the teacher is saying
- read visual information on the board, transparencies, or computer screen
- understand the main points of what the teacher is saying and decide the significant information to record
- remember how to spell the words being recorded
- record information legibly
Educational therapists become better able to individualize intervention by:
- focusing specifically on students’ areas of difficulty and dealing with problems as they arise during the actual learning process
- maintaining the intensity of focus needed to help the student work through difficulties
- developing the trust needed to free the student to accept and work on difficult areas
Parents become better able to:
- provide structure and accountability
- supervise homework
- maintain regular contact
For more information on NILD Therapy please visit the following website: https://www.nild.org/families/what-is-nild-educational-therapy/
Pennsylvania Resources
Student Services Staff
Mark Major
Special Education Case Manager/NILD Therapist
[email protected]
Elizabeth Reiley
Behavior Support
[email protected]
Karen Bevan
Paraprofessional
[email protected]
Michelle Aungst
Paraprofessional
[email protected]
Karen Runkle
Paraprofessional
[email protected]
Reba Hughes
Paraprofessional
[email protected]
Justyna Allen, RN
Nurse
[email protected]
Jenna Troutman
Lead Special Education Teacher
[email protected]
Sylvet Montejo
Special Education Case Manager
[email protected]
Heather Nelson
Student Coach & Child Study
[email protected]
Nicolle Hutchinson
Director of Education & Child Study
[email protected]