Special Education:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What kind of Special Education "classes" does Fairbanks offer?
A: We offer a large continuum of services, starting with those provided in the regular classroom, to work with individual therapists (such as the Speech teacher or Occupational Therapist) or special class placement. Many of the special classes do include students without individual plans (IEPs) when there is room.
Q: My child has been referred for a Multifactored Evaluation. How long will that take?
A: The Psychologist, Speech Therapist and other professionals involved usually have a list of kids to see with various needs. Reevaluations are also required by law every 3 years. The law requires that your child's evaluation is completed within 60 days after the Parent Consent for Evaluation is signed and received by the School Psychologist. We try to finish as quickly as time and the situation permits.
Q: Does a request for an evaluation from a parent or physician mean that it is automatically started?
A: No, that has changed with recent federal law. The process that Fairbanks uses in all buildings is that each individual case is discussed in an Intervention Assistance Team meeting at the building level, with the parent and any other guest (physician, tutor). Interventions are discussed at the meeting as well as whether or not a multifactored evaluation for special education services should be conducted at this time. The Intervention Assistance Team (IAT) can consist of intervention assistance specialists, the principal, the special education supervisor, regular education teachers and the parent.
Q: How do I request an IAT for my child?
A: A parent, teacher, administrator or the student can request an IAT through the building coordinators. The IAT coordinators at each building are the following people:
Elementary: Ann Arthur, intervention specialist
Middle School: Lisa Studenmund, guidance counselor
High School: Barbara Croft, guidance counselor
Q: What is dyslexia and do you test for that?
A: Dyslexia is a general term for SLD (Specific Learning Disability) reading disorders that usually involve reversals and seeing print in ways other people do not. Other general SLD terms are dysgraphia (writing disorder) and dyscalcula (mathematics disorder). [The Dyslexia Homepage] When testing for learning disabilities in the state of Ohio we look for deficits in one or more of the seven areas of learning disability. Those areas are Reading Skills, Reading Comprehension, Math Calculation, Math Reasoning, Written Expression, Listening Comprehension and Oral Expression. A learning disability can also exist due to visual perceptual difficulties. Please note that young children frequently reverse letters and numbers when writing and this is most often not considered to be a warning sign of a learning disability until later elementary grades.
Q: How does a preschool child qualify for the program at Fairbanks or Harold Lewis?
A: A referral of a suspected disability is made to the school psychologist, preschool teacher or the office of the preschool supervisor at the ESC. The child is then seen in a Preschool Child Check, somewhere in Delaware or Union County, to screen for a learning problem. These are scheduled through the Delaware/Union ESC Early Childhood office, 740-548-7880, and take place throughout the school year. If more testing is necessary a child may be evaluated in the following areas: Adaptive Behavior, Cognitive Ability, Communication, Hearing, Vision, Preacademic Skills, Large or Fine Motor Skills, Social/Emotional Skills or significant Health Concerns.
Q: I am concerned about my child's program. Who should I call?
A: First, I would suggest contacting your child's intervention specialist by phone or email. A parent can also request a team meeting at any time to discuss their child's progress. If there is a very serious issue or something you feel requires a supervisory person, Ann Arthur, Special Education Supervisor or one of the principals can assist you in this process.
