Special Education/PPS
Special Education is also known as Pupil Personnel Services (PPS).
Milford offers a wide range of services for children from ages 3 to 21 who have challenges that require specialized education instruction.
The process through which children are identified and appropriate supports and services that are provided may begin with a developmental screening prior to entering kindergarten. The process may also be initiated at any time a child experiences cognitive, emotional, or behavioral issues that impede his or her success in a regular education classroom.
Milford employs a team-centered approach to service delivery. Team members, representing a variety of professional disciplines, work to develop educational plans that meet the diverse needs of individual students.
MPS Special Education Procedures & Practices Manual
Forms and Resources
Referral Form to Determine EligibilityFor Special Education/Related Services1/2006
PPS-P001Parent Referral Process for Special Education Evaluation
PPS-P002School Referral Process forSpecial Education Evaluation
Procedural SafeguardsNotice Required Under IDEA Part B3/1/2021
Questions and AnswersBilling Medicaid for Health-Related Servicesin Student's IEP
Consent Form - Medicaid PPS-F0192/15/2019Rev. B
Parent NotificationSeclusion and Restraint07/2018
Transition Bill of RightsFor Parents of Students Receiving Special Education Services5/4/2016
Probate Resources for Parentsof Transitioning Students 3/26/2019
Child Find and Preschool Services
Introduction
In accordance with federal regulations, state statutes and local board of education policy, Milford assumes the responsibility for the location, identification and referral of all children requiring special education and/or related services from birth through age 21, including students who are in private schools, in religiously affiliated schools, migrant children, homeless children, and those who are in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade.
The district's child identification process is coordinated by the Pupil Personnel Services Department, which utilizes a variety of community resources and conducts many systematic activities in its effort to identify children requiring special services. This includes annual communication with local preschool programs, various city agencies, local pediatrician offices, and appropriate representation of private and religiously affiliated schools.
A Student Referral Form is used to document all referrals to special education.
Community Child Find Activities
Professional and Agency Notification
The Pupil Personnel Services Department maintains a current listing of community resources that may be sources of referral for children who may require special education and related services.
Birth to Three Component
The school district works in collaboration with the Connecticut Birth to Three system to ensure the identification of children ages birth to three with disabilities. Parents and referring parties should call 1-800-505-7000 (Infoline) or 211 to initiate entry into this system.
Children are referred to the Birth to Three system by a variety of sources, including parents, hospitals, pediatricians, nursing services, social services and school system staff. Children identified as being in need of services are referred to community agencies, and programs and services are provided in accordance with the eligibility standards and service options currently available through the Birth to Three system. The school district maintains a record of the children with disabilities for whom special education and related services will likely be required upon entry into school at age 3.
The school district works with the Birth to Three system to ensure the effective transition from one service delivery system to the other when children requiring special education and related services reach school age. In accordance with Connecticut statutes and regulations, a transition plan is developed to support the transition to preschool services provided by the school district. The transition plan includes the following provisions:
To train parents regarding future placements and other matters related to the child's transition.
To prepare the child for changes in service delivery, including helping the child adjust to, and function in, a new setting.
To obtain parental consent to transmit information to the local school district to ensure continuity of service.
The transition plan for a child enrolled in the Birth to Three program is contained in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). School district personnel attend IFSP meetings when invited. The transition plan must be in place at least 90 days prior to the child's third birthday. The district must ensure that an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is in place by the third birthday for each child eligible for special education and related services.
Preschool Screening (ages 3-4)
Milford Parents! Do you have questions or concerns about your child’s development? Preschool screening could help you find some answers.
Talk to your child’s pediatrician, preschool teacher or daycare provider about your concerns. You do not have to wait to see if your child “will outgrow it.” You can address those concerns now by calling the Milford Public Schools Pupil Personnel Services Department at 203-783-3410 and requesting an appointment for a preschool screening.
After you call the Pupil Personnel Services office, you will be sent preschool forms to complete along with a form to be completed by your child’s current daycare or preschool teacher. Please return these forms promptly. They contain important information which needs to be reviewed by the Preschool Team before scheduling the screening. Upon receipt of the completed forms, you will be placed on a screening list and sent a letter with the next available screening date. We screen all preschoolers at the age of 3 year 1 month.
The Preschool Screening process takes about an hour and involves both you and your child. Your child will play “games” (which target articulation, language, reasoning, concepts, and motor skills) with members of the Preschool Team. At the same time, you and another staff member will complete a parent questionnaire and then discuss your child’s self-help skills and social-emotional development as well as review the screening results.
This is just a screening, not an evaluation. It screens for the presence of possible developmental delays. This screening will result in a determination as to whether your child is functioning within normal limits or is in need of further evaluation.
Sometimes a visit to your child’s nursery school or daycare setting is needed to complete the screening process. You will be asked to sign a permission form before this can be done.
Direct contact from your child’s pediatrician is always welcome.
The Milford Preschool Team includes a Speech/Language Pathologist, an Occupational Therapist, a Physical Therapist, a Preschool Special Ed. Teacher, a School Psychologist, and an Administrator.
Identification of School-Aged Students (5-21 years of age)
Screening of Transfer Students
The principal/designee (Gr. K-5) or school counseling department (Gr. 6-12) of each building is responsible for reviewing the records of any new student transferring from another school system. If the records indicate that the student has been identified as a student with disabilities (IDEA), a process is followed that ensures implementation of the IEP (Individualized Education Plan). If the student is transferring from another Connecticut district, the IEP is put into place and reviewed/updated at the next annual PPT or earlier if necessary. The student could be referred for additional assessments to determine whether current placement/services are appropriate. In the case of a student transferring from an out-of-state school, the IEP is implemented as closely as possible until an IEP meeting is held, additional evaluations completed, and a new IEP is developed. The IEP will be rewritten on Milford's forms as soon as the first Milford PPT is held.
If the record review indicates that the student has an Accommodation Plan under Section 504, then a 504 meeting is immediately held to review the 504 Plan. The student could be referred for additional assessments to determine whether the current placement/services are appropriate. The 504 Plan is immediately implemented as written from the sending school, or as modified by the 504 Team. The 504 Accommodation Plan should be rewritten on Milford's forms.
Screening of School-Aged Children (ages 5-21)
Student Progress
Principals, program directors and school staff analyze student performance on standardized achievement tests, Smarter Balance Assessment, and Curriculum Based Assessments in reading, math, and language arts on a regular basis. Students who experience academic, social or emotional difficulties are referred to the Student Assistance Team.
SRBI - Scientific Research-Based Intervention and the Student Assistance Team (SAT)
The Student Assistance Team (SAT) is a collaborative process designed to bring regular and special education staff together to develop ways to assist in helping meet the diverse needs of students. It is necessary that the pre-referral steps be taken and alternative strategies for students who are experiencing difficulty in school be tried before referral to special education. These strategies include specific interventions that are both scientific and research-based which are implemented by the staff to a student's program, curriculum, and method of instruction or assessment and become part of the total pre-referral process. They must be identified and employed with specific outcomes and projected dates prior to the initiation of a formal referral to the PPT process, although there are instances when going to testing will take place during the implementation of alternative strategies.
Steps in the SAT Process
The teacher contacts parents about the concerns in question and informs them that assistance of the SAT team and process will be requested in an effort to address the concerns. (Tier 1)
The teacher completes the SAT Initial Student Referral Form and gives it to the Principal to approve or send back requesting further information.
The teacher attends an SAT meeting and receives strategy recommendations to meet student's needs. The teacher informs the parents of the outcomes of the meeting. The strategies are implemented and data collected. After several weeks, the teacher reconvenes with the SAT team to report on student progress, interventions are adjusted, if needed. Parents are updated. If the interventions are working, they are continued until the student is performing where expected. If the interventions are not working or working to close the performance gap despite adjustments, referral to special education is considered. Parents are notified and involved in the referral process. (Tier II and Tier III)
Repeated Suspensions/Potential Dropout
Students whose behavior, emotional regulation, attendance or progress in school is considered unsatisfactory (potential dropouts) are screened for a possible referral to special education by each building level Student Assistance Team. Depending on the nature of the problem, referral sources include teachers, parents, nurses, administrators, guidance counselors, etc. The purpose of the referral is to review the student's current academic/social adjustment in order to more effectively respond to the student’s presenting behavior. In those cases in which the student is suspected of having a disability, a referral is made to the PPT.
504 Information
McKinney-Vento (Homeless) Information
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act was created with the goal of ensuring the enrollment, attendance, and success of homeless children and youth in school. This act provides certain rights for homeless students. When families and students find themselves in transition due to their housing situation, it is important that they know their rights regarding education. The following form will provide additional information regarding the process and the application process.