Special Education Programs and Services
Welcome to Northshore where all children are special and where we believe in the potential of every student. Children develop and learn at different rates. Some have difficulty learning to read and write and need the assistance of a special education program. Others learn more easily and require program enhancements or a more challenging curriculum. Northshore offers a wide variety of specially designed programs to meet the unique needs of your child.
The Northshore School District
will make every effort to provide accessibility to events, meetings,
and programs to individuals with disabilities. Please contact the
building principal where the activity is occurring or Addie Brozovich,
ADA officer, at 425-408-7730 to request special accommodations.
Contact Information
Program Questions
Preschool: 425-408-5570
Elementary: 425-408-7736
Secondary: 425-408-7735
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Additional Information
425-408-6021
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Recognizing Differences
You, your child and your school are partners in the learning process. This partnership is the key to determining a suitable program for your child.
As a parent, you know your child best. Your experiences with and observations of your child provide valuable insight for the school.
Your school has a group of professionals dedicated to creating the best possible learning environment for your child. Your child's teacher is constantly assessing the needs of each student. Special education teachers in each school help classroom teachers meet the diverse learning needs of their students.
Does my child have a disability?
Some children need extra assistance in their school career. Students may be in need of "specially designed instruction" and qualify for special education support in the following areas:
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Speech and Language: Difficulty with understanding language and/or speaking.
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Motor: Difficulty with printing, writing, walking, or jumping.
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Developmental Delay: Young children who appear to be behind in the development of cognition communication, physical skills, social skills and/or self-help skills.
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Learning Disability: Children who struggle in acquiring reading, writing and math skills.
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Health Impairments: Limited strength, vitality, alertness due to a chronic or acute health condition (i.e. diabetes, leukemia, ADD, ADHD).
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Emotional/Behavioral: Difficulty maintaining satisfactory relationships with peers and adults.
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Orthopedic Impairments: Difficulty with the normal function of muscles, joints and bones.
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Mental Retardation: Significant difficulty in intellectual skills and in self-help/adaptive skills.
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Multiple Disabilities: Two different disabilities occurring at the same time causing severe educational need.
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Deafness: Documented hearing loss to such a degree that student is unable to process information through hearing.
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Hearing-Impaired: Documented hearing difficulties which negatively affect the student's educational performance.
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Vision Impairment/Blindness: Students with a visual impairment that, even with correction, require specially designed instruction.
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Deaf/Blindness: Students with both significant hearing and vision impairments.
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Autism: Difficulties affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction.
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Traumatic Brain Injury: Students who have experienced injury to the brain by an external physical force, negatively affecting educational performance.
Northshore's Evaluation Team
A Northshore School District evaluation team will review and/or assess a student when a disability is suspected. If the evaluation team finds that the student does have a disability and is in need of specially designed instruction (in accordance with state regulations), an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will then be developed.
What is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?
A team of educational specialists meets with the family to identify specific areas in which to provide extra support/instruction for the student. An Individualized Education Plan is a written plan that specifies how the team will work with the student in those areas requiring additional or special support.
Types of Special Education Programs
Each child is unique and Northshore offers a variety of programs to meet the wide range of student needs. Teacher/student ratios are approximate.
Pre-school
Special Education teacher/student ratio is 1:8; ages 3-5, half-day, 4 days per week.
Kindergarten Transition
Special Education teacher/student ratio is 1:10; half-day, 4 days per week.
Contained Learning Centers (Elementary & Secondary)
We have two different types of Contained Learning Centers in Northshore.
One type of classroom is designed for students who need a high degree of adult intervention. Special Education teacher/student ratio is 1:8; two instructional assistants, functional skills curriculum, mainstreaming as determined by IEP.
The other type of classroom is designed with a high degree of structure, but less adult intervention. Special Education teacher/student ratio is 1:12; one instructional assistant, academic curriculum, mainstreaming as determined by IEP.
Integrated (Elementary)
Special Education teacher/student ratio is 1:21; Special Education teacher is both general education and special education certified, one instructional assistant, class is a mixture of 15 typically developing students and 6 special needs students.
Learning Center (Elementary & Secondary)
Special Education/student ratio 1:28; one instructional assistant, student spends majority of day in general education classroom, gets remedial help from special education teacher as needed.
Fully Included (Elementary & Secondary)
Students with significant special needs for whom the IEP team has determined that the neighborhood school is most appropriate. Student is supported by Learning Center teacher and/or IEP team.
Hearing and/or Visually Impaired
Students are usually served in a neighboring school district where there is a specially designed program. Transportation is provided.
Additional Services
Speech and Language therapy, Occupational/Physical therapy, Vision and Audiology services are provided if the student qualifies. These services are provided at the school where the child attends. The amount of service is determined by the IEP, regardless of where the child attends school.
District Logistics
Click
to verify your residence is in the Northshore School District. If problems arise, please call (425) 408-7900.
NOTE
: This link does
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New to the District but not to special education?
Please let us know about your child and his/her previous special education program. Three simple forms need to be completed. Call
425-408-7900
to request these forms.
Transportation
Bussing, if necessary, is provided to and from school by the district to the most appropriate program in that geographical area of the district.
Parent Involvement
SEPAC (Special Education Parent/Professional Advisory Council)
An active support and advisory network,
SEPAC
meets monthly to discuss and advise on district special education programs. This group also sponsors monthly parent presentations on special education topics. For more information, call 425-408-6008.
