The Individuals with Disabilities Eeducation Act is a federal special education law that requires districts to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students eligible for special education. FAPE means special education and related services necessary for your child to benefit from his or her education. Students are eligible for special education between the ages of three and twenty-one. Incarcerated youth in a state adult correctional facility and who are eligible for special education are entitled to a FAPE until age 18. These services will be provided to your child in the least restrictive environment as described in an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The State Office of Public Instruction has put together a "Procedural Safeguards" handbook to answer many of the most frequently asked questions as well as providing a description of the services that school disticts provide for students with special needs.
For more information: District level contacts are generally the first stop for more information. There are a number of people in the district who can answer questions about your child’s education. You may contact your child’s general or special education teacher, the school principal, or the district’s special education director. The Director of Special Education in Deer Park is Greg Swartz. Greg can be reached via e-mail at swartzg@dpds.org or via phone at 464-5526 Your next level of support can be found at OSPI, which has program supervisors to assist you with questions about your child’s special education program. You may reach OSPI, Special Education Operations at (360) 725-6075, TTY (360) 586-0126, or speced@ospi.wednet.edu.
The Special Education Ombudsman position at OSPI was established by the Washington State Legislature during the 2005 session. The purpose of the Ombudsman is to provide support to parents, guardians, educators, and students with disabilities. The Ombudsman provides information to help families and educators understand state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and to access training and support, technical information services, and mediation services, as appropriate.
Special Education Ombudsman – Kristin Hennessey For further information and assistance, please contact Kristin Hennessey by phone at (360) 725- 6075 or by email at kristin.hennessey@k12.wa.us.
Areas of Interest for Special Education Students and Their Families
OSPI has compiled a useful listing of online resources for families of students with special needs. Links in include helpful publications, websites, assessments and other valuable resources.
- OSPI Special Education Website
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