Exceptional Students (Special Education)
The Van Buren School District (VBSD) ensures
that all children with disabilities, ages 3 to 21 and within district jurisdiction,
are provided special education services. The district carries out procedures
to identify, evaluate, locate and provide necessary services.
Special services to students with disabilities are provided in a variety of settings
and placements. Settings range from a very mild provision of services such as
inclusion, indirect or itinerant services to the most structured hospital/homebound
setting. Services and placement are determined by a student's programming committee.
VBSD strives to ensure all buildings and facilities are accessible and useable
for all students according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
specifications.
The VBSD preschool, initiated in 1991, consists of two classroom teachers, two
instructional assistants, and a speech pathologist. Services are provided both
on campus and at designated off campus sites. Regulation by the Arkansas Department
of Human Services for disability identification are followed with their licensure.
In order to assess special education services, a referral may be made by a student's
teacher, other school or district educational personnel, parent, or other individuals
with relevant knowledge concerning the child. A written referral should be made
to the school principal. An appropriate conference will be scheduled. To determine
that a student is in need of specialized educational services, the student must
be formally evaluated. With parental permission, an evaluation will be completed
to determine the existence of an eligible disabling condition.
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