Department Overview
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2020- 2021 - Special Education Department Goals
GOAL ONE: Facilitate and maintain yearly IEP meetings in compliance with regulations and Covid-19 guidelines and directives.
- Work in collaboration with District Administration, members of the Special Education Department, MIU IV Staff, and community members to maintain compliance in all areas of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
- Work in collaboration with the Special Service Secretary, School Psychologist, Therapists, Teachers , and Director of Special Education to maintain regularly scheduled meetings in compliance with State Regulations and guidelines.
- Work in collaboration with building level administration and secretaries in the coverage of teachers for IEP meetings.
GOAL TWO: Collaborate with Director of Special Education and ESS in the process of selection, interview, hiring, and assignment of instructional aides and paraprofessionals, for the support of students within the school setting.
- Provide for student support in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) at Mercer Area Elementary and Mercer Area Middle/High Schools.
- As applicable, continue teambuilding activities during department meetings for new staff members transitioning into their new roles and/or assignment of a mentor para/aide/teacher for incoming support staff, as needed.
- Provide applicable and timely professional development opportunities for Special Educators and Support Staff.
GOAL THREE: Collaborate with fellow administrators to closely monitor academic and behavioral achievement of students receiving services in both the support and general education settings.
- Collaborate with special education staff, support staff, general education teachers, and building level administration for review of performance data to address the implementation of necessary interventions to ensure students demonstrate growth academically and behaviorally in the school setting.
- Continue to collaborate with building level administration, guidance department, and teachers to create student schedules that provide adequate support to ensure that LRE and Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) are provided.
- Oversee, facilitate, and collaborate with special education teachers, general education teachers, parents, and building level administrators to develop students’ Individualized Education Programming, IEP Goals, and Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) that are most appropriate for the individual students, and that follow LRE and FAPE mandates.
Contact Us
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Mrs. Shirley Spiegel
Special Education Coordinator
724-662-5102
sspiegel@mercer.k12.pa.usMrs. Laura Shillito
Special Education Secretary
724-662-5102 ext. 3002
lshillito@mercer.k12.pa.us
Helpful Documents
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Click on each category title below to access the appropriate files
Public Awareness Notices
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Student Assessments
The Mercer Area School District intends to assess more than one percent of the total number of students assessed on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), Keystone Exams, and Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment (PASA) using an alternate assessment during the 2019-2020 school year.
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Notification of Destruction of Student Special Education Records
Notification of Record Destruction - Mass Letter for December 18 2017 destruction of records.pdf 482.42 KB (Last Modified on November 1, 2017) -
Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services & Programs
2016-2017 SD Annual Public Notice of Special Education Services and Programs_3.pdf 247.21 KB (Last Modified on February 24, 2017) -
Services for Students in Non-Public School
Services for students in Non - Public School - 2018.pdf 108.1 KB (Last Modified on November 30, 2018) -
Special Education Plan Report
17-18 Special Education Comp Plan Mercer Area School First Reading.pdf 866.65 KB (Last Modified on March 20, 2018)
Services Provided Through The IU4
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Physical & Occupational Therapy Support
Related Service Occupational and Physical Therapy - 2018.pdf 188.71 KB (Last Modified on November 30, 2018)
Parent Resources
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Derechos De Los Padres - Como Entender la Notificacion de Salvaguardas Procesales
Derechos De Los Padres - Como Entender la Notificacion de Salvaguardas Procesales.pdf 2.66 MB (Last Modified on November 30, 2018)