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Welcome to the Special Education Department

We understand that navigating the world of special education can be overwhelming. With so many rules, regulations, forms, and unfamiliar terminology, it’s easy to feel unsure about where to start or what steps to take.

Our goal is to support you and provide clear answers, helpful resources, and ongoing guidance to make your experience a positive one. We are here to work with you as partners in your child’s education.

If you ever have questions about the services your child is receiving or if you believe your child may need support, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to assist you.

West Branch School District is committed to identifying and supporting school-age students who need special education services. We use a variety of procedures to screen, identify, and evaluate the specific needs of students who may require specialized programs or services.

Routine Screenings

The district conducts regular screenings to help identify students’ needs:

  • Hearing: Screened in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, and 11th grades.
  • Vision: Screened in every grade.
  • Speech and Language: Screened for all students entering kindergarten and by referral for other students.
  • Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Academic, and Social-Emotional Skills: Assessed continuously by classroom teachers.

Information from these screenings is recorded in the student’s official school file.

Access to Student Records

School records are always open and available to parents. Access is limited to school officials with a legitimate educational interest in the child. Records are only released to other individuals or agencies with written permission from the parent or legal guardian.

Requesting a Screening or Evaluation

Parents who have concerns about their child’s learning or development may request a screening or evaluation at any time by contacting the Special Education Supervisor.

Communication with parents and students will be provided in English or in the family’s native language as needed.

  • Oral request for evaluation: The district will provide a Permission to Evaluate – Evaluation Request form within 10 calendar days.
  • Written request for evaluation: If the district agrees to evaluate, it will provide the Permission to Evaluate – Consent form and a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement/Prior Written Notice (NOREP/PWN) within a reasonable time, generally within 10 calendar days.

Use of Screening Information

Screening results are reviewed by the school’s Child Study Team to determine whether interventions are needed or if further evaluation is appropriate.

If a psychological evaluation is recommended, the district will send the Permission to Evaluate – Consent form to obtain parental consent. Parents will also receive a Procedural Safeguards Notice, which explains all rights available to parents of a child with a disability (ages 3–21) who has been referred for or is receiving special education services.

Evaluation Process and Report

After evaluations are completed with parent involvement, a detailed Evaluation Report will be prepared. This report includes specific recommendations for interventions and programming to meet the students’ individual needs. A copy of the report will be provided to the parent. Please note: The school district has 60 calendar days from the date permission was obtained from the parents to complete the evaluation report.

Following a positive eligibility determination, the IEP must be developed and implemented in 30 calendar days.

If the student is found eligible for special education services, parents will be invited to participate in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting.

The IEP Team

The IEP team develops a plan tailored to the student’s needs. Required IEP team members include:

  • Parent(s) or legal guardian
  • A general education teacher
  • A special education teacher
  • A representative of the Local Education Agency (LEA)
  • School psychologist (or someone qualified to explain evaluation results)
  • The student, starting at age 14 when planning for life after graduation (or earlier if appropriate)
  • A representative from a career and technical school if such programming is being considered

Other individuals may also be invited to the meeting at the request of the parent or the LEA. This may include:

  • An administrator
  • Social worker
  • Nurse
  • Related service providers
  • Other agency representatives
  • Anyone else the parent wishes to invite
  • An advocate chosen by the parent

If a required member of the IEP team cannot attend, they may be excused with written agreement from both the LEA and the parent using the Parental Consent to Excuse Members from Attending the IEP Team Meeting form. In such cases, the excused member must provide written input for the team to review.

Parent Participation

Parents are valued and essential members of the IEP team. The district makes every effort to ensure parents can participate, including providing written notices, making documented phone calls, and offering necessary accommodations to facilitate attendance.

Parents will receive a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) explaining the proposed program. Parents have the right to agree or disagree with the recommendation. If they disagree, they may pursue mediation or a due process hearing.

Privacy Rights of Parents and Students

The school district and its employees are required by federal law and state and federal rules and regulations to protect the rights of students. Information about students cannot be disclosed without written parental consent. 

Educational Records, Personally Identifiable Information, and Directory Information

Educational records consist of information directly related to a student which is maintained by an educational agency. Personally identifiable information includes the students name, the name of the parent or other family members, a personal identifier, or a list of personal characteristics that would make the student’s identity easily traceable. Educational records and personally identifiable information cannot be disclosed or released without written parent consent, or if a student is over eighteen, without student consent.

There is certain information that can be released without consent which is called directory information. Directory information means information contained in an education record of a student which would not generally be considered a harmful or an invasion of privacy, if disclosed. The school district designates what information is labeled as directory information. It shall include the following: The student’s name, address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletics teams, dates of attendance, degrees of awards receive, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. Disclosure of the information means to permit access to or the release, transfer, or other communication of educational records, or the personally identifiable information contained in these records, to any party, by any means, including oral, written, or electronic. This means that information about a student cannot even be shared in conversation without permission. This also applies to other personal who do not have an educationally relevant reason to possess knowledge of a student.

Written parental consent is necessary for disclosure of personally identifiable information and educational records. The consent must: (1) specify the record that may be disclosed; (2) state the purpose of a disclosure; (3) identify the part of class of parties to whom the disclosure may be made. Furthermore, the school district must maintain a written record of disclosure for the parents to inspect in case information has been released.

Chapter 15 Protected Handicapped Students

A protected handicapped student is a student who is school age with a physical or mental disability which substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to any aspect of the school program.

In compliance with state and federal law, the school district will provide to each protected handicapped student, without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aides, services, or accommodations which are needed to provide 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. These services and protections for “protected handicapped student” are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment in special education programs).

Child Study

The goal of Child Study of to provide a process whereby a committee of school personnel and non-school personnel, as appropriate, meet to address the needs of individual students who are having difficulty in the educational setting. The Child Study team will intervene in order to maintain the child in the regular classroom setting.

Disability Services: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

The Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, or OVR, provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. OVR provides services to eligible individuals with disabilities, both directly and through a network of approved vendors. Services are provided on an individualized basis. The OVR counselor, during face-to-face interviews, assists customers in selecting their choice of vocational goals, services and service providers. An individualized plan for employment (IPE) is developed, outlining a vocational objective, services, providers, and responsibilities. Certain services are subject to a financial needs test (FNT) and may require financial participation by the customer. Counseling and guidance, diagnostic services, assessments, information and referral, job development and placement, and personal services such as readers or sign language interpreters are provided at no cost to the individual. Also, by law OVR customers receiving social security benefits for their disability (SSI, SSDI) are exempt from OVR’s financial needs test.

Contacts

Ashley Nixon, MRC, Rehabilitation 
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
727 Goucher Street, Section 10
Johnstown, PA 15905
Phone:  1-800-762-4223

Lana Arnold, MSW, BSL – Early Reach Coordinator
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
727 Goucher Street, Section 10
Johnstown, PA 15905
Phone: 1-800-762-4223

Missy Franklin, LSW – Early Reach Coordinator
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
199 Beaver Drive
DuBois, PA 15801
Phone: (814) 371.7340

Kris Smeal, M.A., CRC – Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
199 Beaver Drive
DuBois, PA 15801
814-603-1589 (cell)

West Branch School District – Gifted Education Eligibility

West Branch School District offers gifted education services for school-aged students beyond second grade who demonstrate exceptional ability. Eligibility is based on multiple established criteria, including:

  • An IQ score of 130 or higher, or
  • An IQ score lower than 130 when other strong educational criteria indicate gifted ability.

Referral for Gifted Education Evaluation

We recognize that many individuals play important roles in supporting your child’s education. The following people may refer a student for gifted education evaluation:

  • Parent/Legal Guardian
  • Teacher
  • Administrator

We accept both written and verbal requests for referral.

Faculty

Ms. Angela Lucas
Special Education Supervisor/AEDY Program Director/ESL Coordinator
alucas@westbranch.org
814-345-5615×3850

Mrs. Kim Eboch
Special Education Secretary K-12th
keboch@westbranch.org
814-345-5615×3000

Mr. Kaleb Quick
Gifted K-12, Learning Support 1st Grade
kquick@westbranch.org

Mrs. Kristi Gibson
Learning Support Teacher 2nd-3rd Grade
kgibson@westbranch.org

Mrs. Sarah Ewing
Learning Support Teacher  4th-5th Grade
sewing@westbranch.org

Mrs. Nikki Petriskey
Life Skills/ Autistic Support Teacher k-6th
npetriskey@westbranch.org

Mrs. Cheri Cantolina
Learning Support 6th Grade
ccantolina@westbranch.org

Mrs. Sherri McGarvey
Learning Support Teacher 7th-8th
smcgarvey@westbranch.org

Mr. Matthew Hauck
Learning Support/Emotional Support Teacher 7th-8th Grade
mhauck@westbranch.org

Ms. Beth Hudish
Learning Support/Emotional Support Teacher 9th-12th Grade
bhudish@westbranch.org

Ms. Debra Moriarity
Learning Support Teacher 9th-12th
dmoriarity@westbranch.org

Mrs. Erin Liegey
Life Skills Support Teacher 7th-12th
eliegey@westbranch.org

Mr. Brian Fenton
Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) Instructor 6th-12th Grade
bfenton@westbranch.org

Mrs. Amanda Harris
Speech and Language Therapist K-12th
aharris@westbranch.org

Mrs. Danielle Gregory
Speech and Language Therapist K-12th
dgregory@westbranch.org

Mrs. Sarah Koot
School Psychologist K-12th
skoot@westbranch.org

Mrs. Coleen Dixon
Licensed Counselor
cdixon@westbranch.org

Ms. Melanie Gillingham
Occupational Therapist (Penn Highlands) K-12th
mgillingham@westbranch.org

Mrs. Heidi Bloom
Physical Therapist K-12th
hbloom@westbranch.org

Ms. Allison Berry
Hearing Therapist (CIU) K-12th
aberry@ciu10.org

Ms. Carrie Kephart
Teacher of the Visually Impaired K-12th (CIU10)
ckephart@ciu10.org

Ms. Jennifer Witcamp
Teacher of Visually Impaired (CIU)
jwitkamp@ciu10.org

Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”

  • Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
  • Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
  • Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
    • School officials with legitimate educational interest;
    • Other schools to which a student is transferring;
    • Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
    • Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
    • Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
    • Accrediting organizations;
    • To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
    • Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
    • State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.

Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.

For additional information, you may call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call 1-800-437-0833.

Or you may contact us at the following address:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520

Parent Information Links

Release of Information: Document (pdf)
Procedural Safeguards: Notice (pdf)
The PEAL Center: Website
Pennsylvania Department of Education: Website
Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance: Website
Secondary Transition Information: Website
Child Find: Website
Autism society of America: Website
Council for Exceptional Children: Website
National Parent Teacher Association: Website
Pennsylvania Parent Information and Resource Center (PAPIRC) : Website
Pennsylvania Department of Education: Website
Pennsylvania Secondary Transition Guide: Website


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