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Special Education

Special Education

Special education is specially designed instruction that addresses the unique needs of a student eligible to receive special education services. Special education services are provided at no cost to parents and include the related services a student needs to access his or her educational program.

The State of Arkansas must ensure that all children with disabilities, from three (3) years of age until the end of the school year in which the child turns twenty-one (21) years of age, residing in the State have the right to and availability of FAPE, including children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school.

Smackover-Norphlet School Districts provides specially-designed instruction to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. This includes adapting as necessary to meet the appropriate needs of an eligible student, the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction to address the student's unique needs and ensuring access of the child to the general curriculum.

Contact

Staci Stafford
Special Education Director
Phone: 870.725.1202
E-mail: staci.stafford@smackover.net

  • When a child is referred for special education and annually thereafter, parents are provided a copy of their Procedural Safeguards or "Parent's Rights”. Below are links to the English and Spanish versions.

     

  • Section 504 covers qualified students with disabilities who attend schools receiving Federal financial assistance. To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to: (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; or (2) have a record of such an impairment, or (3) be regarded as having such an impairment. Section 504 requires that school districts provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to qualified students in their jurisdictions who have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Referral for Section 504 can be made by contacting the following: 

  • It is the responsibility of the Smackover-Norphlet School District to locate, identify, and evaluate all children who may have a disability. If you know a child who has a disability or one you suspect may have difficulty with learning, communication, vision, hearing, behavior, or motor control and coordination, please contact the special education department at your local public school district or the charter school the student attends.

    Smackover-Norphlet School District screens children from ages 3 through 21. All Child Find referrals are considered confidential and services are provided at no cost to the family. A referral can be made by anyone that suspects that a child has a disability. If you suspect that a child has a disability and may be in need of special education services, you can contact the counselor at the campus the child attends to obtain a Request for Referral form. This will need to be returned to the counselor upon completion. You can also contact Staci Stafford, Special Education Director, at (870)725-1202 for more information or to request a referral.

    A referral conference will be scheduled and held within 21 days of a receipt of a referral to determine if testing is needed for special education eligibility. If the committee determines that testing is needed, the parents will be asked to consent to the evaluation. The evaluation will be completed within 60 calendar days. An evaluation programming conference will be held within 30 calendar days after the completion of the evaluation at which time eligibility will be determined. If a student is found to be eligible, a team of educators and parents meet to develop an Individual Education Program (IEP) for the student. This plan will include goals and/or objectives as well as classroom and testing accommodations. Any necessary related services will also be included.

    Contact Arkansas First Connections (1-800-643-8258) for assistance with children ages birth to 3 who may have disabilities. First Connections is the Arkansas Early Intervention Program for evaluation and services.

  • In accordance with the state and federal regulations implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Smackover-Norphlet School District destroys personally identifiable information related to special education services 6 years after a student is dismissed from services, graduates, or moves. Special Education records collected by the Smackover-Norphlet School District relate to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district. A copy of your child’s records can be obtained at the School Linked Health Center or by contacting Staci Stafford, Special Education Director, at 870-725-1202.