Special Education Policy

Special Education Policy

First Philadelphia Charter School provides a full continuum of services to students with disabilities who qualify for Special Education or related services. These services include but are not limited to counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, learning support, emotional support and autistic support.
If you are concerned about your child’s academic, social or behavioral performance or their progress in school, please speak to your child’s teacher about your concerns. As a school, we monitor our student’s academic, social and behavior progress closely. When you are working on your child’s academics at home, it is important to note that there may be a problem if your child’s reading level is more than one year below grade level, if your child has memory retention issues, or an inability to remain on task and complete assignments. If you believe that your child may have special needs, please contact the Special Education Coordinator to discuss the options that First Philadelphia Charter School can offer.

At any time that you feel that your child may qualify for special education, you may initiate testing procedures by forwarding a written statement to the Principal stating your concerns about your child and that you wish your child to be tested.

Special education law states that the School has 60 days to complete the testing process. Your child will remain in his/her present educational placement until testing is completed. No change in educational placement will be made unless both you and the school agree to the change in placement. If any disagreement arises regarding the recommendations following testing, the child will remain in his/her educational placement while the disagreement is resolved following the established special education procedures.

After the testing is completed and a report prepared, there will be a meeting to discuss the results. You have the right to discuss this and offer input into the goals that will be met for your child. When this discussion results in differences that cannot be resolved you have the right to request a pre-hearing conference, mediation, or an impartial due-process hearing. You may also request a combination of these alternatives.

For further information on the evaluation procedures and provisions of services to protected handicapped students or students with disabilities, contact:

Michelle Kealy, Special Education Coordinator at: mkealy@ap-schools.org.