Special Education Department/ Child Study Team
Director of Special Services
Director of Child Study Team
Ms. MaryBeth Warfield
504 Compliance Officer
856-694-0100 ext. 243
mwarfield@delsearegional.us
Middle School Case Managers:
Rachele Weichmann, School Psychologist
856-694-0100 ext. 291
rweichmann@delsearegional.us
Ms. Kim Collins- School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 208
kcollins@delsearegional.us
High School Case Managers:
Mrs. Lisa Elisio- School Social Worker
856-694-0100 ext. 222
lelisio@delsearegional.us
Ms. Tara Heffner- School Psychologist
856-694-0100 ext. 206
theffner@delsearegional.us
Dr. Melissa Smith- LDTC
856-694-0100 ext.263
msmith@delsearegional.us
CST Secretarial Staff:
Tracy Dobbins- Grades 7,8 & 9
856-694-0100 ext. 251
tdobbins@delsearegional.us
Linda Jespersen- Grades 10, 11 & 12
856-694-0100 ext. 260
ljespersen@delsearegional.us
Information about Special Education
Related Services:
- Speech/Language Services
- Counseling
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
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
jscerbo@delsearegional.us
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:
- has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity;
- has a record of such an impairment;
- is regarded as having such an impairment.
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
jscerbo@delsearegional.us
Guidelines for Section 504
- Treat people fairly
- Use common sense
- Treat people in the same way you would want your own child or yourself treated
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
- Being able to perform a major life activity that the average person in the general population can perform.
- Being significantly restricted as to the condition, manner, or duration under which we can perform a particular major life activity as compared to the condition, manner, or duration under which the average person in the general population can perform that same activity.
- The standard that should be used in determining substantial limitation thus is average performance in the general population.
- Consider the impairment’s nature and severity, duration, and any long-term impact.
School Requirements for Section 504
- Annually identify and locate all children with disabilities who are underserved.
- Provide a free, appropriate public education to each student with a disability, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability (providing general or special education and related aids and services).
- Ensure that each student with disabilities is educated with non-disabled students to the maximum extent appropriate.
- Establish nondiscriminatory evaluation and placement procedures to avoid the inappropriate education that may result from the misclassification or misplacement of students.
- Afford children with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in non-academic and extra-curricular services and activities.
- Having a record of such an impairment – has a history of, or has been classified as having, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- Regarded as having an impairment is defined as one who:
- Has a physical or mental impairment that does not substantially limit major life activities but is treated by a recipient as constituting such a limitation
- Has as physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities only as a result of the attitudes of others toward such impairment
- Has none of the impairments defined but is treated by a recipient as having such an impairment
Please contact:
Middle School or High School
Ms. Jackie L. Scerbo
Director of Special Services/CST
District 504 Compliance Officer
jscerbo@delsearegional.us
High School
Melissa Pilitowski
High School Guidance Director
Mpilitowski@delsearegional.us
Project Child Find
1-800-322-8174
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:
- Assisting families of infants and toddlers, birth through two, concerned about their child’s development by directing all requests regarding early intervention to the family’s local Special Child Health Case Management Unit. If you need the number for your Special Child Health Case Management Unit, call:
- Project CHILD FIND at
- 1-800-322-8174
- Assisting families of preschoolers, three through five, concerned about their child’s development by directing requests to their local school district.
- Helping families access community services through referral.
- Promoting community and public awareness of all children with disabilities by providing information.
- Assisting local school district boards of education to identify unserved children from age three through twenty-one who are in need of special education and related services.
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
State Department of Health / State of New Jersey
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
jscerbo@delsearegional.us
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
jscerbo@delsearegional.us
Participants:
- Parents of children with an IEP/who are educated in schools or outside of the student’s neighborhood school.
Other Members May Include:
- District Director of Special Services
- Members of the Board of Education
- Teachers
- Child Study Team Members
- Students/Former Students
- Community leaders/other citizens
- Parents interested in improving education in the school district
Special Education Parent Advisory Council IS NOT:
- An advocacy assistance group, which focuses on upholding rights of children and advocating for change from outside the system
- A limited campaign dedicated to addressing a single issue or immediate concern
- A special Education PTO/PTA, which might plan carnivals, classroom activities, dances, fund raisers or other events
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 Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG) Manual: A Guide for Best Practices in Developing and Implementing an Effective (SEPAG) (English/Spanish)
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)
Speech / Language Development
IEP Goals
Special Education Law
Advocates
State Special Education Website
Regulations
Additional Resources
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
Boggs Center
(732-235-9300)
Special Needs Education
Resources/ Links/Training / Webinars / Advocacy
Special Services
Link: Approved Supplemental Education Services
Link: Supplemental Services questions
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
