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IDEA

The Department of Exceptional Children supports the Individual Educational Programs of students ages three through twenty-one years of age who are eligible for special education and related services within the district.

The special education services are provided on a continuum from the least restrictive to more restrictive environments and are contingent upon educational needs of the student. The Department provides a full array of assessment and special education interventions for students requiring such services. The Department works collaboratively with students, schools, families, and the community to increase student achievement and to promote post-secondary success for all students with disabilities.

Proportionate Share Meetings:

Under the current guidelines of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), local systems have the responsibility to identify all students with disabilities and allocate a proportionate share of funds for services.  The Stephens County Department of Exceptional Children will hold a Proportionate Share Meeting on January 19, 2024, and April 19, 2024, at 9 a.m.  The meetings will be held at the Stephens County Board of Education located at 191 Big A School Rd. Invited participants include representatives of private elementary and secondary schools in the district’s jurisdiction, parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities, and parents of eligible home-schooled students with disabilities.  

The following will be discussed:

1. The Child Find process and how parentally placed private/homeschooled children with disabilities can participate;

2. The determination of the proportionate share amount of federal funds available to serve parentally placed private/home school children with disabilities, including how that amount was calculated;

3. The consultation procedures among the Local Education Agency (LEA) and private school representatives and how the process will operate;

4. How, where, and by whom special education services and related services will be provided for parentally placed private/homeschooled children with disabilities, including a discussion of the type of services, how the service will be apportioned if there are insufficient funds to serve all children and how and when these decisions will be made; and 

5. How the LEA will provide a written explanation to private school officials of the reason why the LEA chose not to provide services if the LEA and private school officials disagree

For more information, contact Brandy Stacy at 706-886-9415 ext. 1612 or brandy.stacy@stephenscountyschools.org.

Eligibility Categories include:

  • Autism
  • Deaf/Blind
  • Deaf/Hard of Hearing
  • Emotional & Behavioral Disorder
  • Intellectual Disabilities
  • Orthopedic Impairment
  • Other Health Impairment
  • Significant Developmental Delay
  • Specific Learning Disability
  • Speech-Language Impairment
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Visual Impairment & Blindness


 

DIRECTOR OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

Brandy Stacy
706-886-9415 ext. 1612
brandy.stacy@stephenscountyschools.org
181 Big A School Road, Toccoa, GA 30577

504 Coordinator Grades K-8:

Dr. Joel Strickland
706-886-9415, ext. 5112
joel.strickland@stephenscountyschools.org
191 Big A School Road, Toccoa, GA 30577
 

504 Coordinator Grades 9-12:

Brent Tuck
706-886-9415, ext. 5644
brent.tuck@stephenscountyschools.org
191 Big A School Road, Toccoa, GA 30577