Cleveland Municipal School District

Special Education

 

Parent Mentor Program  

The vision of the Parent Mentor Program is to help parents of children with disabilities effectively navigate the educational system through a partnership with districts to support the child in reaching their maximum potential.

 

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Mission Statement

 

The Mission of the Parent Mentor Program is to encourage effective implementation of IDEA97 and other federal and state statutes.  this will be accomplished by providing information and support to families and by creating a mechanism to convey the family perspective back to the system.

 

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Students are provided special education programs and services based upon:

• Results of a Multi-factored Evaluation

• Meeting eligibility requirements

As the district strives to provide quality services to the students with special needs, teachers and administrators continue to view parent participation as a critical element in creating productive educational environments.

Consistent with this mindset, the Division of Special Education expands its services to enhance communication among families, teachers, and the community, via the Parent Mentor Program.

Parent Mentors assist parents in understanding their rights, and the services available through the Division of Special Education.

SERVICES

Parent Mentors

• Serve as advocates for parents of special needs children.

• Assist parents in preparing to be significant contributors at Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Conferences.

• Participate in IEP Conferences, upon request.

• Describe and explain rules and policies of the Cleveland Municipal School District as they relate to Special Education.

• Ensure that parents are aware of the types of Special Education programs available to students.

CONTINUUM OF ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENTS

At the IEP meeting, the parents and representatives from the school district determine the most appropriate special education and related services for the child, in the least restrictive environment.  Services are available for ages 3 to 22.

CONTINUUM OF ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENTS

 

means the availability of different types of educational environments, including but not limited to:

• Regular classes

• Supplemental services

• Individual/small group instruction

• Special classes/learning centers located in:

  1. A public school building

  2. A separate school in the district

  3. A separate facility, such as

  4. The Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities

  5. The Ohio State School for the Blind or the Ohio State School for the Deaf

  6. A state institution operated by the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Ohio Youth Commission

  7. Home Instruction

  8. Alternative service delivery options to meet the social and education needs of preschool children with disabilities through

  9. Related services

  10. A setting that is appropriate for each individual student

PROGRAM GOALS

Cleveland Municipal Schools Special Education Programs are designed to:

• Provide skills leading to independence as an adult on the basis of the evaluation of each child

• Match the student’s level of development

• Develop objectives leading to one or more occupation skills.

General program emphasis and individual skill development depend upon the student’s needs as described in his/her Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

The provision of Extended School Year services is determined on an individual basis.  The IEP team considers whether or not the child is failing, is likely to fail, will achieve short-term instructional objectives, or has experienced an interruption of instruction during the school year.

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