Special Services

We believe…

• Each individual child has unique strengths and abilities and it is our responsibility to create opportunities to build upon these strengths. All students can learn when provided the right supports.
   
• Effective communication is critical for creating a sense of community and to solve challenging problems. We must create a brave space rather than a safe space.
   
• Every child has a right to a high quality instructional program with evidence-based curriculum, progress monitoring, tiered supports and effective teaching.
   
• It is our ethical and moral imperative to ensure equity and support students within general education – every child belongs in our community.
   
• One of our fundamental responsibilities is to coach and build capacity with staff so they can meet the variety of needs that our students demonstrate. We are all teachers.
   
• To meet our goals for student achievement and foster a growth mindset amongst staff, we need to offer ongoing professional learning in collaboration with other departments.
   
• If we are going to eliminate the achievement gap, we must work collectively with families and our community to ensure that each child can fulfill their potential. We work in partnership with families.
   
• Behavior is a form of communication and positive relationships are essential to ensure student success. Many of the children we struggle to teach are those that need us the most.
   
• We are advocates for students with special needs. Every child has a voice that should be recognized, honored and uplifted.

PTSA Special Education Group
The Lake Washington PTSA Special Education Group (formerly Special Needs Group) is made up of Lake Washington School District community members whose students receive special services (IEPs) and accommodations (504s) as well as interested staff and students. The group meets every school month except for December and June. We hear from speakers, have an extensive lending library, learn about resources in the community, network with other parents and keep updated on district and PTSA issues affecting children with disabilities. Visit the LWPTSA Special Education Group page.

Procedural Safeguards: Parent and Student Rights
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires schools to provide parents/guardians of students who are eligible or referred for special education with a full explanation of their rights. School districts must provide a copy of the Procedural Safeguards (Español) at least once each school year, or when the parent/guardian or others, including the district, request that a student be evaluated to determine eligibility for special education services; the first time you file a citizen complaint in a school year; the first time you request a due process hearing in a school year; when a decision is made to remove a student for more than 10 school days in a year as part of a disciplinary action and that removal constitutes a change of placement; or upon request.

Section 504 Services
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) is a federal civil rights law. It is designed to eliminate disability discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funds. Since all public school districts receive federal funds, all public school districts must comply with Section 504. Under Section 504, denying a disabled student a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”) is disability discrimination.

Health Services
Health services in LWSD are designed to ensure schools have the resources and systems to provide students with the health-related care needed to access school. Duties of Health Services include medication management, health care collaboration, monitoring of life-threatening emergency care plans, and general oversight of student medical related needs.