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Exceptional Student Education (ESE)
40 Orange Street St. Augustine, Florida 32084 Phone: (904) 547-7672 Fax: (904) 547-7687
Lisa Bell Director for Exceptional Student Education 904-547-7672
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MISSION:
To identify and meet the unique educational needs of exceptional students and to provide support and resources to enhance educational opportunities so they may become productive citizens.
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PROGRAMS:
ESE programs and services address the unique needs of students who are gifted in kindergarten through 12th grade and those with mild, moderate and severe disabilities from age three until they graduate with a regular diploma or through their 21st birthday. ESE programs and services are designed to assist students in reaching their educational goals through the use of instructional and behavioral approaches which are research-based and exemplify best practices. Technology is used in many creative ways to meet student needs as well.
ESE services are available at all district schools for students who have mild to moderate disabilities. Gifted students and students with more significant disabilities are served in cluster programs at selected sites. Program support is provided to students, parents and school personnel by program specialists based at the district office. Students with disabilities who are not eligible for services through the ESE program, may be eligible for an accommodations plan under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For more information, see 504 plans.
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REGISTRATION:
Students who are new to the district should register at their home-zoned school. To expedite correct placement of your child, please provide the school with documentation regarding your child's diagnosis and eligibility for special programs (i.e. IEP or EP, evaluation reports, etc.) If you do not have copies of this documentation, school personnel will request the records from your child's previous school. The school's assigned staffing specialist or other school personnel will review this information and arrange for placement in a program that most closely matches your child's
previous program. If your child requires a program that is not available at your home-zoned school, the staffing specialist will contact you and the school housing the cluster program to facilitate appropriate placement. Transportation is available for students assigned to a cluster program that is not available in their home-zoned school.
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EVALUATION:
A student may be referred for evaluation if she/he is suspected of being gifted or having a disability and is in need of a special program or services. Referrals for evaluation should only be requested after the school has provided at least two interventions to try to meet the student's needs in the regular education environment. The school guidance counselor is responsible for processing any referral requests. Students who live in St. Johns County but are not attending public school may also be referred for evaluation if they are between the ages of three and 21. Contact the guidance counselor at the student's home-zoned school for more information. For a flyer with more information, Click Here
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SCHOOL CHOICE: ESE Students who wish to attend a school other than their home-zoned school have several options.
Hardship Transfers K-12: All District students, including ESE students, may participate in the District's school choice plan by filing an out-of-zone request. Out-of-zone requests are approved based on hardship, space available and availability of the appropriate ESE services to meet the student’s needs. Click here to apply for a 2012/2013 Hardship
Transfer for ESE students in grades K-12. Click here to apply for a 2013/2014 Hardship Transfer for ESE students in grades K-12. Transportation is not provided.
PreK ESE Hardship Transfers: PreK ESE students may submit an out-of-zone request to the ESE Department. Out-of-zone requests are approved based on hardship, space available and availability of the appropriate ESE services to meet the student’s needs. Click here for a 2012/2013 ESE PreK Student Hardship Transfer form. Click here for a 2013/2014 ESE PreK Student Hardship Transfer form. Transportation is not provided.
Gifted Cluster Programs: Services for students identified as gifted are available at all elementary and middle schools. Certain schools are also designated as cluster sites for gifted services.
McKay Scholarship Public School Option Transfers (for ESE students with disabilities or students with 504 plans):
Florida's School Choice Programs ensure that no child will be left behind by allowing parents to choose the best educational setting—public or private—for their child. The McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program currently provides more than 30,000 Florida students with special needs the opportunity to attend a participating private school. The McKay Scholarships Program also offers parents public school choice. A parent of a special needs student who is dissatisfied with the student’s current school may choose to transfer the student to another public school. Contact the Department of Education, Office of Independent Choice and Parental Choice at (800) 447-1636 or see the Florida Department of Education McKay homepage. Transfers under the McKay Scholarship Program Public School Option are approved based on three criteria:
- You applied for a McKay Scholarship through the Florida Department of Education and your child was found eligible to receive the scholarship;
- Review of your child's ESE or 504 records indicate that the special education services he/she needs can be provided at the requested school; and
- Review of enrollment figures indicates that the requested school has available capacity to accept students under the McKay Scholarship.
The McKay Scholarship allows the student to continue at the approved public school until he or she has successfully completed all grades offered at that school. Transportation is not provided for McKay Scholarship Students. If you are approved for the McKay Scholarship and would like your child transferred to another public school under McKay, please put that request in writing to Lisa Bell, ESE Director. Requests can be sent via US Mail, fax or by emailing Ms. Lisa Bell.
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