Atwater STEAM Elementary takes pride in ensuring that ALL students are treated with respect, dignity and are provided an educational experience that is appropriate and aligned with each students' individual needs and the CA state standards.

THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS

Since the needs of each student with a disability are unique, special education policies and procedures set forth a process to determine a child's FAPE.  The following are the key steps in the process:

1.  Written request for special education assessment is made by a parent or school staff member.

2.  Special education assessment plan is developed.

3.  Parent is provided the special education assessment plan within 15 calendar days of receipt of request.

4.  Parent approves, signs, and returns the assessment plan.

5.  Assessments are conducted and reports are prepared.

6.  IEP meeting is scheduled and team members notified no later than 10 calendar days prior to the scheduled date of the meeting.

7.  IEP meeting is held within 60 calendar days of receipt of signed special education assessment plan.

8.  IEP is implemented immediately.

9.  Parent is provided reports on student's progress as often as parents of general education peers are provided reports on student progress.

10.  IEP meeting is held to review its appropriateness within one year of the previous IEP meeting.

PALS (Preschool for All Learners)

The PAL Special Day Program serves special education eligible children under kindergarten age with moderate to severe needs. The staff includes an early childhood special education teacher and two special education trainees/assistants. The class meets Monday through Friday for 4.5 hours daily. 

The content of the program is based on the District adopted preschool curriculum and stresses the facilitation of goals and objectives through developmentally appropriate concrete experiences and play. The program includes opportunities for interaction with typical preschool and kindergarten peers served in programs on the same school campus. Speech/Language and Adapted Physical Education services are embedded through the daily classroom routines and instruction.

Autism/Special Education

We have a Special Day Program (SDP) for students with Autistism in grades TK-5 who are on the LAUSD CORE curriculum. The AUT-Core Curriculum program uses the District approved core curriculum, and teachers supplement the curriculum with targeted or intensive materials and instruction as appropriate. 

Atwater STEAM Elementary se enorgullece de asegurarse de que TODOS los estudiantes sean tratados con respeto, dignidad y se les proporcione una experiencia educativa que sea apropiada y alineada con las necesidades individuales de cada estudiante y las normas estatales de CA.

EL PROCESO DE EDUCACION ESPECIAL

Dado que las necesidades de cada estudiante con una discapacidad son únicas, las políticas y procedimientos de educación especial establecen un proceso para determinar el FAPE de un niño.  Los siguientes son los pasos clave en el proceso:

1. La solicitud escrita para la evaluación de educación especial es hecha por un miembro del personal de los padres o escuelas.

2. Se elabora un plan de evaluación de la educación especial.

3. A los padres se le proporciona el plan de evaluación de educación especial dentro de los 15 días calendario a partir de la recepción de la solicitud.

4. El padre aprueba, firma y devuelve el plan de evaluación.

5. Se realizan evaluaciones y se preparan informes.

6. La reunión del IEP está programada y se notifica a los miembros del equipo a más tardar 10 días calendario antes de la fecha programada de la reunión.

7. La reunión del IEP se lleva a cabo dentro de los 60 días calendario siguientes a la recepción del plan de evaluación de educación especial firmado.

8. El IEP se implementa inmediatamente.

9. A los padres se les proporcionan informes sobre el progreso del estudiante tan a menudo como los padres de compañeros de educación general reciben informes sobre el progreso de los estudiantes.

10. Se celebra una reunión del IEP para examinar su idoneidad en el plazo de un año a partir de la reunión anterior del IEP.

Special Day Programs (SDP)

Students who are on the General Education curriculum, but receive Special Day minutes as part of their IEP, are provided instruction in a small group setting taught by a Special Education teacher and one baseline assistant.

RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Atwater also has a Resource Specialist Program. The Resource Specialist Program provides instruction and services for students whose needs have been identified in an IEP and who are assigned to regular classrooms for the majority of the school day.

• Adapted Physical Education
• Language & Speech Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Counseling Services (School Psychologist)