Student Services

Child Find

The Southwest Licking Local School District is committed to the location, identification and provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), for all children between the ages of 3 and 22, having disabilities. Location and referral of such children (Child Find) may be initiated by anyone with knowledge of the child and suspecting the child may have a disability. Please contact Dan Davis, Director of Student Services, at 740-927-3941, with any questions, concerns, or names for Child Find referrals within the Southwest Licking School District.

Evaluations

The Ohio Department of Education has an Evaluation Roadmap that explains the evaluation process. Please click the link below to access this roadmap.

https://parentmentor.osu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Evaluation-Roadmap.pdf

Individuals that qualify for special education services will be identified as having one or more of the following disabilities, according to state and federal guidelines:

• Intellectual disability
• Hearing impairment
• Speech or language impairment
• Visual impairment
• Emotional disturbance
• Orthopedic impairment
• Autism
• Traumatic brain injury
• Other health impairment
• Specific learning disability
• Deafness
• Deaf-blindness
• Multiple disabilities
• Developmental delay (has age restrictions)

MTSS

As a district, each building utilizes an MTSS model. MTSS stands for Multi-Tiered System of Supports.  As a part of this process, each building has supports for students that help learners access the general education curriculum. Sometimes, these supports are not enough to meet the individualized learning needs of a student.  Based upon the student's current response to intervention supports or the student's apparent need for specialized instruction, the student may be referred for a special education evaluation. If you have questions and or concerns regarding your child's progress, please reach out to your child's teacher, your building administrator, or your child's counselor.  

FAPE

FAPE stands for a Free Appropriate Public Education.  IDEA guarantees that every child that is eligible for special education services is entitled to FAPE.  

SST 6 Guidelines Regarding FAPE

Links

Autism Scholarship Program

Jon Peterson Scholarship

Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

Scholarships Offered Through ODE

SST 11 Resources for Families

Board Docs - Child Find

Board Docs - Programs for Students with Disabilities

Operating Standards

Notifications

Public Participation Meeting for LEA use of Part B Funds

Medicaid Reimbursement

Preschool

Southwest Licking Schools offers a preschool program for both typically developing peers and those with disabilities.  This program offers an enriching and welcoming learning environment for children between the ages of three and five. Our preschool offers a range of services free to those with a qualifying disability, while typical peers are enrolled on a tuition basis.  At our preschool you will find an emphasis on developmentally-appropriate activities with a focus on the High Scope Curriculum. Within our preschool setting, children with disabilities receive play-based, individualized, developmentally appropriate interventions, including child- and teacher-directed activities. Children of all abilities are given the opportunity to learn and to interact with each other. The typically developing peers within our program serve as role models for instructional and social interactions.

Our preschool program is operated according to the Ohio Department of Education Preschool Education standards, federal education mandates under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), and state licensure rules and regulations. Preschool teachers must hold a license issued by the Ohio Department of Education.

Parent Resources

Ohio Department of Education Families of Students with Disabilities

Procedural Safeguards- Parent Rights

Medicaid Guardian Rights

Link to Procedural Safeguards Translations

West Licking Special Olympics

Southwest Licking families of students with disabilities may want more information in regards to the West Licking Special Olympics.  The following links can help you find more information.

Website Link

Facebook Link

Our school psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students, families and other school professionals.  They also work with school administrators to improve schoolwide practices and policies and work to determine services needed by students.  

Chad Timmons ctimmons@swls.us Grades K-2

Brittany Fleming bfleming@swls.us Grades 3-5

Danielle Simpson dsimpson@swls.us Grades 9-12

Noelle Thompson nthompson@swls.us Grades 6-8

A free and appropriate public education (FAPE) shall be provided for each child determined to be in need of special education and/or related services. Students may be identified disabled and eligible for special education services under the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA, 2004). Others may be identified as disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. A student identified as disabled under Section 504 may be eligible for services if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits learning or another major life activity.

Guardianship is a legal process in which someone (usually a family member) asks the court to find that a person is unable to manage his or her affairs competently because of a disability.  A guardian assumes the responsibility for the person with a disability and makes the decisions for them.  

More detailed information on this process and if it is right for your family can be found at the link below. 

Information on Guardianship

Graduation Pathways

Board Policy on Career Advising

Board Policy on Graduation Requirements

Board Policy Graduation Plans

Operating Standards