Special Education Services
The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) ensures that students eligible to receive special education services are provided with the supports and services necessary to make progress in the general education curriculum.
The St. Marys Area School District provides these services to eligible students at no cost to the parent if they are included in a student's Individual Education Plan (IEP).
Type of Support |
Definitions/ IEP Could Address |
Autistic Support (AS) |
Verbal/nonverbal communications; social interaction skills and proficiencies; response to sensory experiences and changes in the environment; daily routines/schedules; positive behavior support |
Blind-Visually Impaired Support (VS) |
Accessing print; orientation/mobility; assistive technology; instruction in braille; use of braille; appropriate reading and writing materials |
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support (HS) |
Language and communication needs; opportunity for direct communications with peers and professional personnel in the student's language and communication mode via Communication Plan |
Emotional Support (ES) |
Social and emotional skills or functional behavior |
Learning Support (LS) |
Reading, writing, mathematics, speaking/listening skills related to academic performance |
Life Skills Support (LSS) |
Academic, functional, or vocational skills necessary for independent living |
Multiple Disabilities Support (MDS) |
More than one disability; the result of which is severe impairment requiring services in academic, functional/vocational skills necessary for independent living |
Physical Support (PT) |
Functional motor skill development; adaptive physical education or use of assistive technology designed to provide or facilitate the development of functional motor capacity or skills |
Speech and Language Support (SLP) |
Communication or use of assistive technologies designed to provide or facilitate the development of communication capacity or skills |
The St. Marys Area School District contracts with local agencies and Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 for Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Hearing Support (HS), and Early Intervention (EI).