Special Education

Bellwood-Antis School District

220 Martin Street

Bellwood, PA 16617

 

Phone: (814) 742-7605

Fax:      (814) 742-9040

 

For specific questions regarding Special Education please use the following email addresses:

 

Mrs. Carol A. Beard - Director of Special Education

 

Mrs. Savannah P. Eckenroad  - Special Education Secretary

 

The philosophy of Bellwood Antis is to provide each student with an individualized program designed to meet the student’s needs as an exceptional learner in accordance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The goal is to enable each student to utilize the potential that he/she possesses to become a well-adjusted contributing member of society.  We believe that each student, regardless of exceptionality, is entitled to this opportunity in the least restrictive environment.
  
The Bellwood Antis School District provides a wide variety of programs to meet the needs of students with disabilities. A student participating in special education is provided with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to meet their unique educational strengths and needs. Programs and services are operated by the district or provided by contract with Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 or neighboring school districts. 
 
Educational disabilities include autism, deaf-blindness, emotional disturbance, deafness, hearing impairment, specific learning disability, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, speech or language impairment, visual impairment including blindness, and traumatic brain injury. 
 
The Bellwood Antis School District has developed procedures for screening and evaluating school-aged children living within the district that are experiencing academic and/or emotional/behavioral difficulty. This includes children who are residents of the district but attend nonpublic schools.
   
If you have a reason to believe that your child may have an educational disability and is in need of specially designed instruction, contact a member of the Childfind/Response to Intervention Team (i.e. Special Education Director, Principal, School Psychologist, Classroom Teacher, Guidance Counselor). They can explain the process of screening and, if needed, evaluation. 
 
State and federal laws and regulations outline parent’s rights and safeguards to be followed in providing a free and appropriate public education. A copy of procedural safeguards that explain parent rights and confidentiality issues are provided to parents when the evaluation process starts.