Building Principals may be contacted for a review of this policy. Handicapped Students A protected handicapped student is a school age student with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to any aspect of the school program. In compliance with State and Federal Law, Punxsutawney Area School District will provide to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services, or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student's abilities. The Punxsutawney Area School District uses the following procedures for screening, identifying, andevaluating specified needs of school-age students requiring special programs or services. Hearing is also screened for those students who have a history of problems or who are referred throughout the school year.
Visual acuity is screened in every grade.
Specified needs from all of these screening sources are noted within the child's official file. Information from the records is released only upon written permission of parents. Parents with concerns regarding their student may contact building principals at any time to request a screening or evaluation of their child. Communication with parents and exceptional students shall be in English or the native language of the parents. Screening information will be used by an Instructional Support Team within the student's school to meet his or her specific needs or to document the need for further evaluation.