Special Education
Mission Statement
It is the mission of the Social Circle City Schools (SCCS) Department of Special Education to provide quality special education and psychological programs and services to students, parents, and schools in Social Circle. The Department is committed to providing the assistance needed to ensure that students with disabilities are receiving the most appropriate services possible.
The SCCS Department of Special Education provides services to students ages 3-21 eligible for special education and related services. All students with disabilities have the right to receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, with their non-disabled peers, as appropriate. The type and degree of services provided are determined through the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Dr. Christina Sneed Special Education Director 770-464-2731 Ext. 1122 christina.sneed@socialcircleschools.org- District and Support Staff
- Child Find
- Special Needs Scholarship
- Dyslexia Information
- Public/Private School Choice
- Private/Homeschool
- Resources
District and Support Staff
2022-2023 District and Support Staff
Social Circle Primary School |
Diana Anabseh, Department Chair Alyssa Deems, Speech Language Pathologist |
Social Circle Elementary School |
Ansley Jones, Department Chair Kayce Whitley, Speech-Language Pathologist |
Social Circle Middle School |
Christy Thornton, Department Chair Kayce Whitley, Speech-Language Pathologist |
Social Circle High School |
Justin Drew, Department Chair Kayce Whitley, Speech-Language Pathologist |
District Office |
Pam Gauntt, Administrative Assistant Pat Kennedy, Psychologist Denise Oglesby, Psychologist |
Child Find
Social Circle Schools has policies and procedures to ensure that all children suspected to have a disability, including those who are homeless, are wards of the State or are attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disability, and who are in need of special education and related services, are identified, located and evaluated.
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Children birth through age 3
Social Circle Schools fulfills its Child Find responsibility through referral to the Babies Can’t Wait early intervention program operated by the Department of Community Health for children from birth through age three.
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Preschool children, ages 2.6-5
A representative from Social Circle Schools School District attends all Babies Can’t Wait transition meetings for all students who reside in Social Circle Schools attendance zones. At that meeting, the team determines if an initial evaluation is needed with the parent's permission. The Social Circle Schools representative schedules the evaluation and staffing meetings with the parent to ensure services can be available if the student qualifies for special education eligibility by the date the student turns three years old.
In each of the Social Circle school buildings, an administrator will set up a Student Support Team (SST) to review individual students' academic progress and the results of interventions. The SST at each school is responsible for reviewing the data from the Universal Screener and selecting the point at which students are identified for interventions. Teachers can also refer students to the SST for review. If the SST suspects a student may have a disability, they can refer the student for an evaluation.
- Overview of Child Find Screening
- When to Refer
- Child Find Screening Process
- Post-Screening Meeting
- Interventions Prior to Referral
- Child Find Response to Intervention Strategies for Parents
- Community Notification
Overview of Child Find Screening
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Any child ages 3-5 residing in the school district can be referred for a monthly Child Find screening. Children not currently attending a Social Circle School can also participate in Child Find screenings.
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Preschool Child Find is a federally mandated free resource offered to Social Circle residents ages two years, five months to 6 years old. Preschool Special Education Child Find screenings offer families a service that can assist with identifying potential special education needs and providing educational opportunities with skills instruction and early intervention services.
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Physicians, therapists, local preschool or daycare providers, or other entities can initiate a Child Find referral. Parents may make a referral at any time. The Special Education Interventionist at Social Circle Primary can schedule screening appointments as needed.
When to Refer
Research demonstrates that early intervention in a child’s life increases their opportunity for success. Each Child is unique and develops at an individual pace. Having concern about a child’s development is an adequate reason to make a referral to a Child Find Screening.
However, there are milestones that we anticipate children will typically attain by a certain age. If a child has difficulty around the age of three by demonstrating one or more of the following:
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Has difficulty expressing themselves effectively to be understood by those who are not in their immediate environment
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Has difficulty understanding language
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Demonstrates repetitive behavior
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Has a difficult time interacting with others
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Demonstrates excessive, inappropriate behaviors
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Delayed in sitting, walking, crawling, talking
Child Find Screening Process
A multi-disciplinary team will complete the screening. The team members include a Special Education teacher, School Psychologist, Speech/Language Therapist, Audiologist, Occupational/Physical Therapist, School Nurse, and Social Worker. The Child will be given a brief screening evaluation in the following areas:
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Vision/Hearing,
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Cognition,
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Communication,
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Motor,
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Self-Help,
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Social.
Post-Screening Meeting
After the screening, the evaluation team will review screening information and make team recommendations. The recommendations may include but are not limited to:
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no further intervention is needed,
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skill intervention designated for an allotted time, or
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a complete educational evaluation.
At the conclusion of the skill intervention trial, parents will meet with members of the evaluation team to review the information collected and to discuss further directions. If the recommendation warrants a complete educational evaluation, skill interventions may be introduced for the allotted time until eligibility is determined. Parents will be assigned an appointment time, at the post-screening meeting, for complete evaluation requests.
Interventions Prior to Referral
Student referrals must be accompanied by documentation of scientific, research, or evidence-based academic or behavioral interventions that demonstrate an insufficient rate of progress.
Exception: Immediate referral and/or placement can be determined if a student has a significant disability in which they cannot access instruction (Deafblind).
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Children birth through age 3
Children referred through Babies Can’t Wait utilize the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) interventions.
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Preschool children, ages 29 months-5yrs
PK Students enrolled in Social Circle schools are provided with research-based interventions recommended by the school Student Support Team (SST). The school collects data on the progress of the recommended intervention.
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School-aged children, ages 6-21
In each building, an administrator will set up a Student Support Team (SST) to review the academic progress and results of interventions of individual students. The SST at the school is responsible for reviewing the data from the Universal Screener and selecting the point at which students will be identified for interventions. Teachers can also refer students to the SST for review. If the SST suspects a student may have a disability, they can refer the student with parental permission.
Children not enrolled in a Social Circle School can attend Child Find screenings. At the Child Find Post-Screening meeting, parents are provided one or two research-based interventions to implement with their child. Parents will also be provided with a data sheet to record the progress of the recommended intervention. The parent is responsible for implementing the intervention and should bring that data to the eligibility meeting.
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School-aged children placed in private schools within Social Circle Schools zone, ages 6-21
Private schools in Social Circle are provided with information regarding the evaluation process offered for students in Social Circle’s attendance zone. The private school administrator / Interventionist will set up meetings to review the academic progress and results of interventions of individual students.
The SST at the private school is responsible for monitoring academic progress and selecting the point at which students will need interventions. If the SST suspects a student may have a disability, the team can refer the student for evaluation with parental permission. The private school administrator will contact the Social Circle Special Education Director to schedule the referral meeting and request a complete educational evaluation.
Child Find Response to Intervention Strategies for Parents
Community Notification
The Social Circle School District will provide details and dates for Child Find screenings to community agencies such as doctor’s offices, health departments, daycares, etc. The Child Find procedures are also published on the Social Circle School District website.
2022-2023 Community Notification of Early Learning Child Find Screenings
2022-2023 Community Notification of Early Learning Child Find Screenings (Spanish)
Special Needs Scholarship
What is the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) Program? What are the LEA’s responsibilities for children receiving the GSNS?
The GSNS Program is a parental choice program for special needs children attending Georgia public schools who are served under an IEP. More Information about the GSNS Program can be found here.
Dyslexia Information
Universal Dyslexia Screening
The Georgia Department of Education will require screening for all students grades K-3for characteristics of dyslexia beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
SCCS is beginning preparations this fall to implement universal screening in advance of this date as we recognize the importance of early reading success. Our district continues to utilize MAP Reading Fluency diagnostic results as a universal screening measure and will also utilize these results to identify any potential characteristics of dyslexia. The school will contact the parents of students identified as needing additional dyslexia screening after the administration of the MAP Reading Fluency diagnostic.
Here are some resources for families to take advantage of:
For more information, contact at christina.sneed@
Public/Private School Choice
Private/Homeschool
Under current guidelines and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Social Circle City Schools is required to allocate a proportionate share of IDEA funds to provide some services to some students who have been placed or enrolled by their parents in private or home schools.
PARENTALLY PLACED PRIVATE SCHOOL AND HOME-SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SUMMARY
LETTER FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ENROLELD IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS/HOME SCHOOLS