Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a national law that protects qualified individuals from discrimination based on their disability.  Under this law, individuals with disabilities are defined as persons with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include caring for one's self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, and learning.  In schools this law provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodations, referred to as a 504 Accommodation Plan, to enable them to effectively function in the school environment.

A student’s eligibility for a 504 Accommodation Plan is not determined at the Special Education Team Eligibility Determination Meeting.  The Team may only suggest that an accommodation plan may be appropriate. The Principal is responsible to convene a Team, which may include a member of the Evaluation Team to determine if the student’s disability warrants a 504 Accommodation Plan and what should be included on that plan.  The principal and a classroom teacher as well as the parent must all be members of that Team. 

In some instances, the Team will have clear evidence of a disability, well-documented data and a history of diagnosis.  In others, the disability may not be as clear or there may be elements of two or more disabilities present.  It is the responsibility of the Team to make a good faith effort to determine the category of disability.  It is recognized that this is not always easy and may, in fact, be altered at some other date.
Contact: James M. LaBillois 781-659-8800

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English Language Learners

The family of every registering student is given a Home Language Survey to complete.  The principal must notify the Director of Student Services of any student whose first language is other than English. 

This student will be assessed using a MELA-O and a Team of professionals, chaired by the guidance counselor, will determine whether this student is eligible for English Language Services.  Any student identified as an English Language Learner (ELL) is not automatically eligible for special education and/or related services.

The Norwell Public Schools will conduct all communication to a family whose first language is other than English in the primary language of the home.
Contact: James M. LaBillois 781-659-8800

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Child Find

The Norwell Public Schools, at least annually, reaches out to groups in the community who may be aware of students in need of special education and/or related services.  These groups include shelters servicing students eligible for support according to the McKinney Vento Education Act for Homeless Children, group homes, agencies, parental and community organizations, other private or public schools, early intervention and health care agencies. 

Parents, who are concerned about their child’s development, may contact the Office of Student Services at 781-659-8800 to request a screening or an evaluation as early as two and a half years old.  All parents of two and three year olds receive this notification annually.  All children are screened the first month of their Kindergarten year. 

Local physicians, daycare providers and preschools in Norwell are encouraged to assist Norwell in finding eligible students.  School districts must conduct child find activities to identify Norwell resident students whose parents have placed in a private school and who may have disabilities, including those students with special education needs placed in private schools out of state by their parents.  In the Fall notice is sent to all private schools, where Norwell students attend and in January another letter is sent to these schools.
Contact: James M. LaBillois 781-659-8800

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Kindergarten Screening

In September of each year the Norwell Public Schools places notice in all School Newsletters and local newspapers to advertise the screening of all children enrolled in Kindergarten in the town of Norwell.  Parents who have chosen not to send their children to Kindergarten may also have their children screened at this time.  The Kindergarten Screening Team includes a school psychologist, a developmental educator, and a speech/language pathologist. 

The Kindergarten Screening Team uses three primary measures to conduct their screening: The Early Screening Instrument-K, a developmental checklist completed by the classroom teacher, and a parent interview.  If behavioral or socio-emotional development has been identified as a concern, the classroom teacher or the developmental educator may complete the Norwell Public Schools Behavioral and Social/Emotional Development Rubric.

Following identification of students the Psychologist notifies the Kindergarten Screening Team, the school principal, and the classroom teacher of the screening date.  Notification ordinarily occurs in the first weeks of October.  Within two weeks of the screening, the Kindergarten Screening Team will meet with Kindergarten Teachers to go over the screening results.  The classroom teacher brings work samples, anecdotal records, drawings, and any other pertinent information to this meeting.  The school nurse also attends, bringing all pertinent medical information as well as the results of the hearing and vision screening.

At this meeting of the Kindergarten Screening Team, students who may require a further evaluation are identified and referred, as appropriate.  Often children are determined to be within appropriate developmental limits, while others may show slight delays in any number of areas on the screening instruments.  These children will be re-screened mid-year to see if there are any concerns at that time.  Parents are notified of the results of the screening the Monday following the meeting of the Kindergarten Screening Team, Nurse, and classroom teacher. 

For more information regarding Kindergarten Screening,
please contact the Director of Student Services 
James M. LaBillois at 781-659-8800.
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Home & Hospital Services

Upon receipt of a physician’s written order verifying that any student enrolled in a public school or placed by the public school in a private setting must remain at home or in a hospital on a day of overnight basis, or any combination of both, for medical reasons and for a period of not less than fourteen school days in any school year, the principal arranges for provision of educational services in the home or hospital. 

Such services are provided with sufficient frequency to allow the student to continue his or her educational program, as long as such services do not interfere with the medical needs of the student.  The principal coordinates such services with the Norwell Public Schools Director of Student Services for the eligible student. 

For more information regarding home & hospital services, please contact the Director of Student Services at 781-659-8800

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CONTACT INFORMATION:

James M. LaBillois
Director of Student Services
labillois@norwellschools.org

Secretary to the Director of Student Services
 

Phone:  781-659-8800
Fax:      781-659-8805

Mailing Address:  Office of Student Services
                          Norwell Public Schools
                          322 Main Street
                          Norwell, MA 02061

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Norwell Public Schools is now accepting registrations for the 2008/2009 Preschool Lottery. The Preschools, located at Cole & Vinal School, are integrated programs for 3 and 4-year-old special needs and non-special needs children. The lottery is for typical children (children without special education needs).  Space is limited.   During the 2008/2009 school year typical children are charged a fee to attend the program (currently $2,025/year for 3 year olds for 3 mornings/week and $2,425/year for 4 year olds for 4 afternoons/week).  This fee may increase next year.  A student who enters the program as a typical student is entitled to remain until he/she reaches school age.  Please call the Office of Student Services at 659-8800 to request a registration form.  The registration period is from 9/25/07- 1/21/2008.  The lottery will be held January 28, 2008.
PRE SCHOOL LOTTERY REGISTRATION FORM

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Wednesday
November 28, 2007
7:00-9:00 PM

Norwell High School Little Theater

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Massachusetts Department of Education

Coordinated Program Review

Corrective Action Plan

The Norwell Public Schools recently underwent a Coordinated Program Review (CPR) by the Massachusetts Department of Education.  Below is a direct link to the Department of Education’s Report of Findings for Norwell Public Schools:
LINK to Department Of Education’s Report PDF
In response to the CPR findings, school administration has developed a comprehensive Corrective Action Plan (CAP) to specifically address all findings in the report.

Below is a link to the district’s approved CAP:
LINK to Norwell Public Schools Corrective Action Plan (CAP)
The plan has already begun initial implementation.  Should you have any questions, concerns, or comments regarding the Coordinated Program Review Process, or the district’s approved Corrective Action Plan, please contact James M. LaBillois, Director of Student Services, at labillois@norwellschools.org or at 781-659-8800.