Special Education
Child Find
This public school academy is participating in an effort to identify, locate and evaluate all children who may have disabilities. For more information regarding assistance for these students or if you suspect a child may have a disability, please contact Mrs. Curran or the student services office at 313-897-8720 ext. 107.
Inclusion
We at Hope of Detroit are proud to offer Inclusion, the way we treat people falls under the belief that we accept families, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers, and all others into everyday life. Inclusion assumes that every person is entitled to respect, dignity, equal rights under the law, and opportunities for fulfilling life within the community and its schools.
Inclusion involves the careful assessment of the needs of each student and the application of measures that will meet those needs. Properly implemented through teamwork, collaboration, co-planning, and co-teaching, inclusive practices benefit all students. Some of the many gains made through inclusive practices are in the areas of social interaction, language development, appropriate behaviors, self-esteem, and academic performance.
Inclusion means that students with disabilities are educated in supported, heterogeneous, age-appropriate, natural, student-centered classrooms, schools and community environments for the purpose of preparing them for their adult lives in a diverse and integrated society.
Our child study team is also available as a resource prior to any testing for special education services. Teachers and parents are encouraged to participate in submitting these forms to implement strategies in which can help their students' academic/behavioral concerns. These forms are available through the child study coordinator at extension #107.
Approach to Determination of Specific Learning Disabilities
The academy has adopted the Wayne County RESA Guidelines for determining eligibility for specific learning disabilities which combines the processes of Response to Intervention and Patterns of Strengths and Weakness. You may access these guidelines by going to the following link:
http://www.resa.net/services/spedcompliance/learningdisabilities/
You can also obtain additional information by referring to the Student Handbook or contacting the school.
What is a Specific Learning Disability (SLD)?
A specific learning disability is "a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia that adversely affects a student's educational performance. A specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities; mental retardation; emotional disturbance; or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage." (34 CFR § 300.8(c) (10).
Determination of SLD
Response to Intervention (RtI)
With the Response to Intervention method, the student is provided with explicit evidence-based interventions. Student progress is carefully measured and the instructional interventions are adjusted to teach the skills necessary for the student to make progress toward age or grade level standards. Based on the student's response to the interventions, the group then determines whether or not the student demonstrates a specific learning disability.
Patterns of Strength and Weakness (PSW)
The "Patterns of Strength and Weakness" method requires an extensive analysis of the student's performance, achievement or both, when compared to age, State approved grade level standards or intellectual development, using appropriate assessments.
Who Evaluates for Determination of SLD?
A Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) conducts a full and individual evaluation of a student suspected of having a specific learning disability. The MET, based upon its evaluation of the student, then makes its recommendation of eligibility to the Individualized Education Planning Team (IEPT). The student's IEPT then determines SLD eligibility.
If you suspect that your child has a specific learning disability, please contact the school's special education teacher.
