Special Education Support and Services

Special Education supports and services are available to eligible students attending Lower Merion School District High Schools. Eligibility for special education supports and services is determined by a multidisciplinary team that includes the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student, if appropriate, following receipt of signed permission to evaluate from the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s). If the student is found to be eligible for Special Education supports and services, the team will next determine his or her need for specially designed instruction and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the student. The student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) are then provided with a Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) that proposes the appropriate supports and services in the least restrictive environment. Special Education services will begin only when the District receives written consent from the parent(s)/guardian(s) in the form of an approved NOREP.

Subsequent to the creation and implementation of the initial IEP, the IEP team reconvenes on at least an annual basis to review the student’s progress and to review and revise the IEP. The District provides a variety of Special Education supports and services for students based upon individual needs, including but not limited to speech/language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, hearing therapy, and vision therapy, as appropriate.