Welcome to the Mount Union Area School District’s
Student Services Department
The Mount Union Area School District’s Student Services Department is committed to providing for the health, safety, and welfare of all students. We have adopted a strategic plan that raises the bar for student achievement within a safe learning environment and prepares each child to be successful as global citizens in the 21st Century. In doing this, it is imperative that any barriers to student learning also be addressed.
Child Find
The Mount Union Area School District and the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit provide special education and related services to resident children with disabilities who are ages three through twenty-one.
The purpose of this notice is to describe
(1) the types of disabilities that might qualify the child for such programs and services,
(2) the special education programs and related services that are available,
(3) the process by which the District screens and evaluates such students to determine
eligibility, and
(4) the special rights that pertain to such children and their parents or legal guardians.
School Counselors
Professional school counselors are certified educators with a minimum of a master’s degree in school counseling. School counselors are uniquely qualified to address all students’ academic, personal/social and career development needs by designing, implementing, evaluating and enhancing a comprehensive school counseling program that promotes and enhances student success
School Psychologist
Mount Union Area School District’s school psychologist helps children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. The school psychologist collaborates with administrators, educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home and school.
School Nurses/ Health Services
Mount Union Area School District’s School Nurses believe that the health of a child has a direct effect on his/ her ability to fully access his/ her educational opportunities.
Special Education
Special education is planned instruction specifically designed to address the educational and related developmental needs of children with disabilities. This includes Early Intervention Services for pre-school for students starting at age three and services for school age children in grades K-12. Our local TIU 11 serves the needs of our Early Intervention population.
For students who are eligible (meet eligibility criteria) students will receive an Individual Education Plan (IEP), instruction is based on the core (district) curriculum. The IEP team documents current education abilities, areas of needs and outlines goals, accommodations/ adaptations or modifications and teaching strategies, as well as other support systems that may help the student to access the general education curriculum.
Protected Handicapped Services
In compliance with state and federal law, the Mount Union Area School District provides to each protected handicapped student without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide an equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student's abilities. In order to qualify as a protected handicapped student, the child must be of school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services and protections for "protected handicapped students" are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs.
Gifted
The Mount Union Area School District provides gifted educational opportunities for qualifying students. Students who are evaluated and identified as gifted, according to Pennsylvania Chapter 16 Regulations, may require instruction and support that is matched to their unique abilities and needs. Specially designed instruction for gifted students is individualized and may take various forms both within and outside of the regular classroom. Through collaboration between the school, the parents, and the child, the district strives to develop instruction that will challenge and enrich all learners at an appropriate level.
English as a Second Language
The Mount Union Area School District is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to every student. The English as a Second Language (ESL) program is designed to accelerate English acquisition for students whose first language is not English and to further assist them in becoming successful learners in the regular classroom. The Mount Union Area School District will provide comprehensive services to ESL learners within the district to improve and support transition from ESL classes to mainstream classes. We will do this by providing a learning environment in which children gain some degree of growth in the areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking through a school-wide team effort, thereby establishing a successful learning environment for all ESL students.
Homeless Services
The Mount Union Area School District’s Homeless Children and Youth liaison works to identify students experiencing homelessness, and implements strategies to address barriers to enrollment, attendance, and participation in school activities. Students experiencing homelessness are entitled under law to:
- An education on an equal basis with the other children;
- Continue to attend their home school of origin
- Immediate enrollment, even if they lack records
- Special assistance from the Mount Union Area School District Homeless Liaison
Homebound Instruction
A school district, area vocational technical school, charter school, independent school, private school or non-public school may temporarily excuse a student from compulsory attendance on account of illness or other urgent reasons and provide that student homebound instruction while he or she is excused from school. Regulations require that the term "urgent reasons" be strictly construed not to permit irregular attendance at school. Any excusal from compulsory attendance must be reevaluated, at minimum, every three months. A school district may have a policy that requires more frequent evaluations. See 22 Pa Code § 11.25
In the event your child needs to be out of school due to illness or physical incapacitation for an extended period [4 weeks per school district policy]; arrangements may be made for homebound instruction at no expense to the parents. Instructors will be provided for only those subjects required for graduation and/or promotion. Homebound instruction is only provided on the favorable recommendation of the attending physician. Students requesting homebound instruction for more than four consecutive weeks may be required to submit additional information from the attending physician. The maximum hours of homebound instruction are 3-5 hours/week.
Instruction Conducted in the Home
For special education students for whom an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) team determines that the instruction of the student is to be conducted in the home; students are counted in both the school membership and school attendance; this is not homebound instruction.
Contact Information
Mrs. Dianne Thomas, Director of Special Education/Pupil Services
706 N Shaver Street
Mount Union, PA 17066
814-542-2518 Ext 162
Mrs. Dia Narehood, Special Education Secretary
706 N Shaver Street
Mount Union, PA 17066
814-542-2518 Ext 160