< PreviousGifted Support Program The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA). These regulations allow you to learn more about your child’s teachers’ training and credentials. We are happy to provide this information to you. At any time, you may ask: • Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching, • Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and • What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration. You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications. The ESSA also includes right to know requests. At any time, parents and family members can request: • Information on policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out, and • Information on required assessments that include o subject matter tested, o purpose of the test, o source of the requirement (if applicable), o amount of time it takes students to complete the test, and o time and format of disseminating results. Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all of our teachers and paraprofessionals meet applicable Pennsylvania state requirements. To obtain this information, please submit your request in writing to Amy Finnegan, HR and Benefits Manager, at the address listed. Each request should include the student’s name, his/her teachers’ names and the school he/she attends. Please be certain to include your name, address and a phone number at which you can be contacted during the day. Moon Area School District Attn. Amy Finnegan Human Resources Department 8353 University Boulevard Moon Township, PA 15108 412-264-9440 ext. 1125 Parents’ Right to Know The Moon Area School District operates a gifted support (Challenge) program that is available for all eligible students. Chapter 16 Special Education Regulations for Gifted Students in Pennsylvania defines a “mentally gifted” student in the following manner: Outstanding intellectual and creative ability, the development of which requires individually designed programs and/or support services not ordinarily provided in the regular education program. This term includes a person who has an IQ of 130 or higher when multiple criteria, as set forth in the Department Guidelines, indicate gifted ability. Determination of gifted ability will not be based on IQ score alone. A person with an IQ score lower than 130 may be admitted to gifted programs when other educational criteria in the profile of the student strongly indicate gifted ability. Determination of mentally gifted ability, along with the need for gifted support is based on the following criteria: the teacher(s) recommendations; the parent recommendations; a student’s recent group achievement test scores; brief IQ assessment/ group IQ; recent individually administered ability (IQ) test scores; rates of acquisition and retention; performance, expertise in one or more academic areas; specialized skills, interests, aptitudes (such as high level thinking skills, academic creatively, leadership skills, intense academic interest, communication skills, foreign language aptitude, and technology expertise); and/or other criteria indicating eligibility and need. Determination of mentally gifted shall also include an assessment by a certified school psychologist. To gather all relevant information prior to determining a student’s eligibility, a Gifted Multidisciplinary Evaluation (GMDE) must be completed within 60 calendar days of the district’s receipt of the parental permission for initial evaluation. Upon completion of this process, a Gifted Written Report (GWR) will be developed and presented to parents. The GWR will include information related to the student’s strengths and needs as well as make recommendations as to whether the student is gifted and in need of specially designed instructions. If a student is identified as being mentally gifted, a Gifted Individualized Education Plan (GIEP) team, including the parent(s), must convene in order to develop a GIEP within 30 days of issuance of the GWR. The GIEP will outline the planned instruction to be provided for the gifted student. The GIEP is reviewed at least annually for its appropriateness and will include annual educational goals and short- term learning outcomes to help the student achieve the goals. Upon completion of the initial GIEP, parents are presented with a Notice of Recommended Assignment (NORA) with which they can elect to agree or disagree with the district’s proposed program. If agreement between parents and the district cannot be reached, parents may request mediation or an impartial due process hearing. To obtain additional information about the gifted support program, contact your child’s building principal. 30 • Allegheny West Magazine • September/October 2020In critical moments, excellence matters THE REGION’S ONLY HOSPITAL WITH 16 STRAIGHT As IN PATIENT SAFETY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED The Leapfrog Group, a national, independent, patient safety watchdog, awarded St. Clair special recognition for the 16th consecutive period, making St. Clair the region’s only hospital to earn an ‘A’ grade for patient safety for 8 years running. The grades rate how well hospitals protect patients from preventable harm, like infections, falls, and medical errors. To learn more about our Hospital Safety Score, or St. Clair’s performance as a national leader in quality and patient satisfaction, please visit stclair.org. 1000 BOWER HILL ROAD | MT. LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA 15243 | 412.942.4000 | STCLAIR.ORGPRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID PITTSBURGH PA PERMIT NO. 5605 Hughey Publications, LLC P.O. 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