SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Jackson City School District Special Services Department is committed to providing a comprehensive
continuum of high-quality services for students with disabilities that facilitates the students’ academic
and social/emotional growth. We are currently serving students with disabilities through Individual
education Program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEIA)
and Section 504 Plans under the Rehabilitation Action of 1973.
It is the policy of the Jackson City School District not to discriminate, in violation of Federal or State law,
on the basis of a disability in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in, any services
program, or activity sponsored by the Jackson City School District.
Inquiries or complaints regarding compliance with this policy or the nondiscrimination requirements of
the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 should be directed
to:
Scott Lowe, Director of Special Services
450 Vaughn Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640
(740) 286-6442, ext. 1011
slowe@jcs.k12.oh.us
Child Find
Jackson City School District is reaching out to families in our community that may have a child with
special needs. Public schools are required by Federal and State law to evaluation any child from age
birth to 21 suspected to have a disability. Special education services are available through the public
schools for children ages 3 through 21 identified with a disability. If you have a child or know of a child
you suspect may have a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act or Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act, please contact Scott Lowe, Director of Special Services, at (740) 286-6442.
Evaluation
Each building has an Intervention Assistance Team (IAT). These teams are structured to help support
students who are experiencing learning challenges through the implementation of classroom
interventions. These interventions are designed by the building IAT to positively impact the student’s
educational performance in the general curriculum. Parents who have concerns about their child’s
educational progress should contact their child’s principal or classroom teacher to discuss those
concerns. Sometimes the interventions designed by the IATs are not enough to meet the needs of an
individual student. Based upon the student’s response to the interventions or the student’s response to
the interventions or the student’s apparent need for specialized instruction, the student may be
referred as a possible candidate for special education.
Students with Disabilities
Preschool Age Children (3-5) Preschool children (ages 3-5) who have been identified as having moderate
to severe development delays in the areas of communication, motor, adaptive behavior, socialemotional, vision, hearing or cognitive skills. A child who is at least 3 years of age and not yet 6 years of
age who meets the definition of a child with a disability or, at the choice of the school district, is a child
who is (a) experiencing developmental delays in one or more of the following areas: physical
development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development
or adaptive development and (b) who, because of it, needs special education and related services.
School Age (ages 6-21) students who have been identified as having one of the following disability
conditions:
 Autism
 Intellectual Disabilities
 Deaf-Blindness
 Deafness
 Emotional Disturbance
 Hearing Impairment
 Multiple Disabilities
 Orthopedic Impairment
 Other Health Impairment
 Specific Learning Disability
 Speech and/or Language Impairment
 Traumatic Brain Injury
 Visual Impairment
Contact Us
Scott Lowe, Director of Special Services
slowe@jcs.k12.oh.us
David Reese, School Psychologist
david.reese@scoesc.org
Melissa Hughes, Special Services Secretary
mhughes@jcs.k12.oh.us
Phone: (740) 286-6442
Fax:
(740) 286-6445
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
The Special Education services for each student with disabilities are written into the student’s
Individualized Education Program (IEP). Services may be provided in a variety of settings, with the goal
being to educate each student in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); which means providing
services in the regular classroom environment to the maximum extent possible.
The following list of educational settings is in order from the least restrictive environment to the most
restrictive environment:
Collaboration/Consultation Services – Regular Education Classes
Collaboration/consultation services focus on intervention specialist and general educators working
collaboratively to best meet the needs of students with disabilities.
Resource Services – Special Classes
The Resource Services support children whose disabilities require a specially designed instruction that
may occur outside of the general education classroom. Continued participation in the child’s regular
class activities is encouraged. The Resource Rooms offer a modified curriculum which provides a
student with a disability a personalized option that is not offered in the general education program.
Separate Facility
Separate facilities are, typically, schools outside of the district that are designed specifically for students
with disabilities.
Home Instruction
Home instruction is an individualized education program provided at home to a child with a disability
which prevents the child from attending a regular or special program even with the aid of special
transportation.
Related Services
Related Services are support services needed to allow children with disabilities to benefit from special
education. These may include:
 Adapted Physical Education Services
 Occupational Therapy Services
 Physical Therapy Services
 Speech and Language Services
 Aide Services
 Audiological Services
 Interpreter Services




Orientation & Mobility Services
School Psychological Services
Transportation
Transition Services
Other Support Personnel/Programs


Mental Health Services
Nursing Services
Contact Us
Scott Lowe, Director of Special Services
slowe@jcs.k12.oh.us
David Reese, School Psychologist
david.reese@scoesc.org
Melissa Hughes, Special Services Secretary
mhughes@jcs.k12.oh.us
Phone: (740) 286-6442
Fax:
(740) 286-6445
SECTION 504
Overview
A free and appropriate public education (FAPE) shall be provided for each child determined to be in
need of special education and/or related services. Students may be identified disabled and eligible for
special education services under the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA,
2004). Others may be identified as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. A student
identified as disabled under Section 504 may be eligible for services if he or she has a physical or mental
impairment that substantially limits learning or another major life activity.
Referral
Once consent has been received, the evaluation team will gather information about your child’s school
performance. The following data may be considered by the team: student work samples, observations,
behavior checklists, teacher rating scales, school records and medical information. After reviewing the
gathered information, the evaluation team will determine IF the student has a physical or mental
disability that substantially limits learning. Re-evaluations will periodically conducted, including at least
every three (3) years.
504 Plan
If a student is identified as disabled under Section 504, the general education teachers, in collaboration
with the special education department representative, shall design a plan to address the student’s
needs. The education program shall be provided in the general education classroom to the maximum
extent appropriate to the needs of the disabled student.
Review
At least annually, there shall be a review of the education plan for a student receiving services under a
504 Plan.
Assurances
Any student identified as disabled under Section 504 is ensured equal opportunities for participation in
academic, non-academic and/or extracurricular activities, and preschool and adult education programs.
Procedural Safeguards
1. Right to grant consent for evaluation activities.
2. Right to revoke consent for evaluation activities at any time by submitting a written statement
to the building principal.
3. Right to receive written notice before a student’s educational status is changed.
4. Right to examine school records.
5. Right to file a grievance or request for impartial hearing to the extent provided by law.
Nondiscrimination Notice Statement
It is the policy of the Jackson City School not to discriminate, in violation of Federal or State law, on the
basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex or disability in admission to, access to,
treatment in, or employment in, any services, program, or activity sponsored by the Jackson City School
District.
Inquiries or complaints regarding compliance with this policy or the nondiscrimination requirements of
the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972 should be directed to:
Scott Lowe, Director of Special Services
450 Vaughn Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640
(740) 286-6442, ext. 1011
slowe@jcs.k12.oh.us
Title IX or Section 504/ADA inquiries may also be referred to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights for
the U.S. Department of Education.
Contact Us
Scott Lowe, Director of Special Services
slowe@jcs.k12.oh.us
David Reese, School Psychologist
david.reese@scoesc.org
Melissa Hughes, Special Services Secretary
mhughes@jcs.k12.oh.us
Phone: (740) 286-6442
Fax:
(740) 286-6445
LINKS
http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Special-Education/Students-withDisabilities/Physical-or-Mentally-Handicap/Whose-IDEA-Is-This-A-Parent-s-Guide-to-theIndivid/Whose-IDEA.pdf.aspx
http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Special-Education/Whose-IDEA-Is-This-AParent-s-Guide-to-the-Individ/2014-1-21-Memorandum-to-Amend-Whose-IDEA-IsThis.pdf.aspx
Notice of Section 504/ADA Procedural Information and Rights