Child Study Team

Dear Delsea Families,

We are happy to inform you that the Delsea Regional School District Counseling Team is staying connected to you and your child(ren) remotely. Here are some ways you and your child can access their School Counselors, Case Managers and Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC):

We are thinking about your families and please know we care!

Your Delsea Regional School District Counseling Team

Delsea Regional High School District Department of Special Services / Child Study Team

Join the Special Education Parents Group (SEPAG) Remind for updates on meeting dates and times as well as Local events including parent workshops:

https://remind.com/join/k77dg98
Links for Division of Vocational and Rehabilitative Services Presentation

For 10th graders:

For 11th and 12th graders:

(Cut and Paste Links into Browser)

Contact your child's case manager with any questions.

Special Education Department/ Child Study Team

Director of Special Services
Director of Child Study Team

Ms. Jackie L. Scerbo
504 Compliance Officer
856-694-0100 ext. 243
[email protected]

Middle School Case Managers:

Rachele Weichmann, School Psychologist
856-694-0100 ext. 291
[email protected]

Ms. Kim Collins- School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 208
[email protected]

High School Case Managers:

Mrs. Lisa Elisio- School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 222
[email protected]

Ms. Tara Heffner- School Psychologist
856-694-0100 ext. 206
[email protected]

Mr. Jack Burton- School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 252
[email protected]

Dr. Melissa Smith- LDTC
856-694-0100 ext.263
[email protected]

CST Secretarial Staff:

Tracy Dobbins- Grades 7,8 & 9
856-694-0100 ext. 251
[email protected]

Linda Jespersen- Grades 10, 11 & 12
856-694-0100 ext. 260
[email protected]

Information about Special Education

Related Services:

Idea:

IDEA is the federal law that assists states, and through them, LEA's, in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities. The primary purpose of the IDEA Part B program is for states and school districts to make FAPE, as defined in the IDEA, available to all eligible children with disabilities and to ensure that IDEA's rights and protections are afforded to eligible children and their parents.

Fape:

Under IDEA, FAPE is a statutory term. It is defined to include special education and related services that: (a) are provided at public expense, under public supervision, and direction, and without charge; (b) meet the standards of the SEA, including Part B requirements; (c) include an appropriate preschool, elementary school, or secondary school education in the state involved; and (d) are provided in conformity with an IEP that meets the requirements. Each child with a disability is entitled to receive FAPE in the LRE.

Referral - Speech / Language

If a parent / professional staff request is made in writing:

The Speech / Language Specialist (SLS) must set up a meeting within 20 days of receipt of the request to determine if an evaluation is warranted.

Note:

when a student has been determined eligible for speech / language services and other disabilities are suspected or other services are being considered, the student shall be referred to the Child Study Team.

Please contact:

Jackie Scerbo - School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 243
[email protected]

Section 504:

Section 504 is a Federal law that prohibits disability discrimination by recipients of Federal financial assistance.

Section 504 provides a broad spectrum of protections against discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, all qualified elementary and secondary public school students who meet the definition of an individual with a disability under Section 504 are entitled to receive regular or special education and related aids and services that are designed to meet their individual educational needs as adequately as the needs of student without disabilities aer met. Section 504 also requires that a student with a disability receive an equal opportunity to particiapte in athletics and extra curricular activities, adn to be free from bullying and harassment based on disability.

An individual with a disability in the elementary and secondary education is defined as a person who:

For more information on IDEA / 504 / ADA requirements, please contact:

Department of Special Services / Child Study Team
Delsea Regional High School District
242 Fries Mill Road, PO Box 405
Franklinville, NJ 08322
856-694-0100 exts. 251 or 260
[email protected]

Guidelines for Section 504

Services in Public Schools

Student with disabilities who are protected under Section 504, but are not eligible for IDEA services, must be afforded a FAPE through a designed process involving referral, evaluation, programming planning, placement, and re-evaluation.

Section 504 eligibility is determined by substantial limitation to a major life activity resulting from physical or mental impairment.
Note: This is a subjective professional judgement.

School personnel must remember that the primary determining factor is their professional judgement about the child’s functioning, not test scores, discrepancy formulas, and other quantitative data.

Steps in the 504 FAPE Process

Referral – Schools are required to refer students who they think would be eligible for Section 504 services. A committee of knowledgeable individuals will make that determination. Parents or school personnel may make referrals.

Evaluation – If the committee believes that the child would probably be eligible for Section 504 services, an evaluation of the area of suspected need must be completed. This evaluation must use nondiscriminatory procedures.

Eligibility Determination – After the evaluation, the committee must determine if the student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.

Recommendation Plan Development – If the committee determines that the student is eligible under Section 504, an accommodation plan must be developed.

Periodic Re-evaluation – The school must periodically re-evaluate the student to determine continuing eligibility under Section 504.

Accommodation

Note: Accommodations for this group of students are usually inexpensive, common sense modifications that enable them to have equal access to educational and extra-curricular activities. They are intended to level the playing field so that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to be successful.

Substantial Limitations

School Requirements for Section 504

Please contact:

Middle School or High School

Ms. Jackie L. Scerbo
Director of Special Services/CST
District 504 Compliance Officer
[email protected]

High School

Melissa Pilitowski
High School Guidance Director
[email protected]

Project Child Find

Project CHILD FIND is a free referral service and public awareness campaign to assist in the identification of unserved / underserved youth with a delay or disability from birth through twenty-one years of age.

In addition, Project CHILD FIND develops and distributes information to the public about early intervention services and special education programs throughout New Jersey.

Project CHILD FIND’s comprehensive efforts include:

Information through Project CHILD FIND may be obtained by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-322-8174 , which is in service 7 days a week, 24-hours a day. All calls received are confidential.

If you are the parent/guardian of a student who you suspect may have a disability, please call:

Mrs. Jackie L. Scerbo
Director of Special Services/ CST
District 504 Compliance Coordinator
856-694-0100 ext. 251 or 260

You will receive information required for enrollment in the Delsea Regional High School District and/or Special Services program.

Have a concern about a child?

Make a referral to Early Intervention in New Jersey for a child under the age of 3.
Toll Free: 888-653-4463

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

If you are a parent / guardian of a student attending Delsea Regional High School District school(s) who is interested in serving on the Special Education Advisory Council, please contact the personnel below:

Mrs. Jackie L. Scerbo
Director of Special Services / CST
504 Compliance Officer
856-694-0100 exts. 251 or 260
[email protected]

Child Study Team Members

Middle School:

Kim Collins, School Social Worker Ext. 208 / [email protected]

Rachele Weichmann, School Psychologist Ext. 291 / [email protected]

High School:

Jack Burton, School Social Worker Ext. 252 / [email protected]

Jane Santo, School Psychologist Ext. 206 / [email protected]

Lisa Elisio, School Social Worker Ext. 222 / [email protected]

Resources

Delsea Regional High School District has a Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

The purpose is to give parents an opportunity to provide direct input to their school district about policies, programs, practices and services for students with disabilities and their families.

If you have concerns and ideas to share, please call the following Director of Special Services/CST:

Ms. Jackie L. Scerbo
Director of Special Services/CST 504 Compliance Officer
856-694-0100 ext. 251 or 260
[email protected]

Participants:

Other Members May Include:

Special Education Parent Advisory Council IS NOT:

The goal is to look at systemic issue(s)

Each Special Education Parent Advisory Council is unique. It takes time, effort and patience to be an effective, sustainable group.

Special Education Department

Child Study Team

Ms. Jackie L. Scerbo
Director of Special Services
Director of Child Study Team
504 Compliance Officer
856-694-0100 ext. 251, 260 or 243
[email protected]

Mrs. Lisa Elisio School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 222
[email protected]

Mrs. Rachele Weichmann School Psychologist
856-694-0100 ext. 291
[email protected]

Dr. Jane Santo School Psychologist
856-694-0100 ext. 206
[email protected]

Mr. Jack Burton School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 252
[email protected]

Ms. Kim Collins School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 208
[email protected]

Important Links

Delsea School District Counseling Web Pages – Most recently, we have added our Delsea Counseling Corner Wakelet to offer helpful activities, articles, and videos.

Due Process – enacted July 2017
(Public Law 2012. Chapter 103)
www.nj.gov/education/legal/specialed/

State Special Education Website
www.state.nj.us/education/specialed/

Additional Resources

IDEA – idea.ed.gov

Education Law Center www.edlawcenter.org

NJ Coalition for Inclusive Education
(732-613-0400); www.njcie.net

Disability Rights in New Jersey
(800-922-7233); www.drnj.org

SPAN
(800-654-SPAN); www.spannj.org

NJ Family Care (Health Coverage)
(800-701-0710); www.njfamilycare.org

Learning Resource Centers
www.nj.gov/education/lrc

NJ Department of Early Childhood Education
(609-777-2074); www.nj.gov/education/ece

NJ Department of Education
(609-292-4469); www.state.nj.us/education

NJ Early Intervention System
(888-653-4463); www.njeis.org

Division of Developmental Disabilities
(800-832-9173); www.state.nj.us/humanservices.ddd

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
(800-695-0285); www.nichcy.org

Supplemental Security Disability Insurance
(800-772-1213); www.ssa.gov

Special Child Health Services
(888-653-4463)

Transition Planning

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)

215 Crown Point Road
Suite 200
Thorofare, New Jersey 08086-2153
Phone: 856-384-3730

Division of Vocational and Rehabilitative Services Presentation:

For 10th graders For 11th and 12th graders

Special Needs Education

Resources/ Links/Training / Webinars / Advocacy

Special Services