Special Education

Our teachers are trained to teach to diverse learning styles and ability levels. Our schools believe in close collaboration between general education teachers, special education teachers, staff, and parents. This produces the best possible learning outcomes for our exceptional students. For more information about our special education programs, please contact the school’s special education department.

In compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Leona Group managed schools are required to locate and provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for all enrolled students with disabilities. The following child find activities are conducted to locate enrolled students with disabilities:

• Review of school records (from prior schools and school of current enrollment)
• Screening within 45 days of enrollment in: vision, hearing, motor skills, speech, language, cognitive ability, academic, and social-emotional development
• Referral of children suspected of having a disability age birth to three years to the Arizona Early Intervention Program, and children age three to five (not yet enrolled) to the appropriate state or community agencies
• Information about concerns and student progress provided to parent(s) in writing
• If appropriate, referral of the child for evaluation and/or other appropriate services

All referrals are considered confidential, and services are provided at no cost. The parent, legal guardian, or surrogate parent retains the right to refuse services and is provided other procedural safeguards under federal and state law. A free appropriate public education with a full continuum of services is available for eligible students with disabilities.

Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Leona Group managed schools have a duty to identify, refer, evaluate and, if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities. For additional information about the rights of parents of eligible students, or for answers to questions about identification, evaluation, and placement into Section 504 programs, contact the school leader or the Director of Exceptional Student Services at 602-953-2933.

Grievance Procedure: Any person who believes she or he has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability by a student, staff member, or third party may file a grievance under the grievance procedure outlined in the handbook. Examples can include disability-based harassment; limiting or denying a qualified individual with a disability the enjoyment of any right, privilege, advantage, or opportunity enjoyed by others; and failing to make non-fundamental, reasonable modifications of policies, practices, or procedures necessary to accommodate individuals with disabilities. The school will make appropriate arrangements to ensure disabled persons can participate in the grievance process (interpreters, audio material, a scribe, a barrier-free location) — the school leader is responsible for such arrangements.

Leona Group Schools managed schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in their programs and activities and provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, you may contact the OCR office for Arizona: Denver Office, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582 · Telephone: 303-844-5695 · FAX: 303-844-4303 · TDD: 800-877-8339 · Email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov · or visit https://ocrcas.ed.gov/contact-ocr for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.

Records Retention (A.R.S. 41-1351): special education records including placement records, referrals, evaluations, and testing data will be destroyed seven years after the student’s last fiscal year of enrollment. A permanent record of a student’s name, address, phone number, grades, attendance record, classes attended, grade level completed and year completed may be maintained without time limitation.

Procedural Safeguards: Parents of a student with a disability (or suspected of having a disability) are entitled to a Procedural Safeguards Notice explaining the rights of the parent and student. A copy is offered to parents once annually and in specific instances; copies are always available from the School Office and on this page below.

Records Request: email brittany.mclemore@leonaschools.com.

AZ Child Find FERPA Notice (English) FERPA Notice (Español) Procedural Safeguards (English) Procedural Safeguards (Español) 504 Parent Rights & Procedural Safeguards 504 Child Find Notice

If you suspect your child has a disability and may be eligible for services under ADA Section 504 or IDEA, contact the school’s exceptional student services coordinator, the school leader, or the Director of Exceptional Student Services at 602-953-2933.