Special Education

Core Values:

• Integrity
• Excellence
• Collaboration
• Customer Service
• Innovation
• Equity

Our Special Education Office coordinates services for students with special learning needs. Should you have a question regarding any special education related matters, please feel free to contact us at 610-892-3470 ext. 1505.

Identification of Students with Special Learning Needs

The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District provides (without cost to parents) screenings, evaluations, and appropriate programs for students who require these services. The Child Find Annual Notice (English / Espanol) is a federally-mandated annual notice describing this obligation. A similar document is published every year in The Daily Times, on behalf of the 15 school districts in Delaware County. Should you need information regarding Early Intervention (pre-Kindergarten programs) screenings and evaluations, please contact the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. The process begins with a simple telephone call from the child's parent or legal guardian to the DCIU Preschool Special Education Department (610-565-0618).

Confidentiality of Student Records

We have established procedures to provide you with access to your child's education records and to protect any personally identifiable information in those records. The Student Records Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information document gives detailed information regarding this process.

Mandated Chapter 15 Notice

Services to students with disabilities are often provided through a Chapter 15 "Service Agreement" or "504 Plan" rather than an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Services for students covered by the Federal IDEIA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act) are defined in Chapter 14 of Pennsylvania Law and are implemented with a document called an IEP (Individualized Education Program). Please call us to discuss the District's procedures and processes to determine Chapter 15 eligibility. Protected Handicapped Notice.

PDE Policy Revision re: Aging out of Special Education Eligibility

PDE has revised its guidance pertaining to INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABLITIES EDUCATION ACT PART B POLICIES AND PROCEDURES UNDER 34 CFR §§ 300.101—300.176 as follows: www.education.pa.gov/Documents/IDEAB.pdf 

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ensures that all children with disabilities ages 3 years through 21 years residing in Pennsylvania have the right to a FAPE, including children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school. The commonwealth shall make FAPE available to a child with a disability eligible under IDEA until the student turns 22. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a child eligible under IDEA who attains the age of twenty-one (21) years may remain enrolled in their resident district free of charge until their 22nd birthday.

For more information related to this change, please click here for the Penn Link Communication issued by the Bureau of Special Education (BSE)  on August 30th, 2023.