Thetford Elementary School provides Special Education services to eligble students. The term 'special education' means specially designed instruction which cannot be provided through the regular education program. These supports are provided at no cost to the parent and meet the unique needs of an elegible child in the least restrictive environment.
Supports might include alternative instruction that focuses on the student's specific needs, classroom accommodations and physical adaptations. A free and appropriate education is available to all children who have been referred for Special Education, who are being evaluated for Special Education or who are eligible for Special Education. Our school provides Special Education to meet a student's individual needs. Parents are involved throughout the decision making process.
If a child is found eligible for Special Education, the child's team, which includes parents, teachers and the principal, develops an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The IEP annually outlines goals, objectives, accommodations, and services. Goals are tied to the Vermont Grade Expectations and address the child's individual learning needs. For example, a child who requires a different type of reading instruction might have written into his/her IEP, goals that outline a systematic and sequential study of language instead of accessing the regular education reading program. Another example might be IEP goals that outline more repetition and practice for a particular concept, so that a child is able to access the regular classroom curriculum.
Thetford Elementary School recognizes that children have different needs and Special Education is one avenue that helps support these learning differences.