Programs for Exceptional Education Services

Intellectually gifted students are those who perform or who have demonstrated the potential to perform at high levels in academic or creative fields when compared with others of their age, experience, or environment. These students require services not ordinarily provided by the regular school program. Students possessing these abilities can be found in all populations, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor. Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, peers, self, and other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities may refer a student for consideration for gifted services. The parents must be informed when their child has been referred. For more information regarding gifted services and the referral and eligibility process, contact the Office of Exceptional Education at 256-233-6600.

 

Special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services are provided to students who meet the eligibility criteria. Information regarding services, supports, or referral procedures may be obtained from the school principal. All referrals, evaluations, and educational support are provided in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 and the Alabama Administrative Code Chapter 290-8-9 Special Education Services SUPP. NO. 11-2.

 

The Athens City Schools ensure that all children residing in the jurisdiction of the local education agency, birth to twenty-one, regardless of the severity of their exceptionality, and who need exceptional education and related services are identified, located, and evaluated. Child Find also applies to children with exceptionalities who attend private schools, including children attending religious schools within the Athens City Schools jurisdiction, highly mobile children with exceptionalities (e.g. migrant children), and homeless children, or children who are wards of the state and children who are suspected of having an exceptionality and are in need of exceptional education services even though they have not failed, been retained in a course/grade, or are advancing from grade to grade.

 

If you know of a child who may be in need of special education services or would like to receive additional information regarding services for students with disabilities contact the Office of Exceptional Education by phone at 256-233-6600.

 

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) is a civil rights statute that prohibits discrimination/harassment on the basis of a disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 provides: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." For questions regarding Athens City 504 procedures, contact the Office of Exceptional Education at 256-233-6600.