Student Support Services
Welcome to Orleans Central Supervisory Union Student Support Services!
Our goal is to help all students experience success. Special Services focuses on academic outcomes, student aspirations, parent and community engagement, and compliance with regulations. We strive to provide opportunities for students to access high-quality instruction in the least restrictive environment.
Section 504 is a civil rights statute, which was enacted to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disabilities. A 504 plan is based on regulations developed under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A 504 plan outlines how a child’s specific needs are met with accommodations, modifications and other services. These measures aim to remove barriers to learning in the general education classroom.
Section 504 defines disability in very broad terms and does not list specific disabilities by name. Students who are not eligible for an IEP may qualify for a 504 plan. For any student that is an individual with disabilities, a public school must provide access to a free appropriate public education.
Parents/Guardians can contact your building principal or the Director of Special Services for additional information regarding Section 504.
Special Education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. It includes services for students who have been identified as having a disability which adversely affects their performance in the general education curriculum for which they require specialized instruction in a basic skill area. Special Education provides students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that includes specialized services, modifications, and accommodations. The goal of implementing these plans is to allow students with disabilities to access the general education curriculum within the least restrictive environment that best meets their individualized needs.
The federal law which requires access to a free appropriate public education for children with disabilities is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA was enacted in order to provide an equitable education to students with disabilities. The rules and regulations specific to Special Education in Vermont is contained within the State of Vermont Special Education Rules adopted June 1, 2013.
Parents/Guardians can contact the Director of Special Services for additional information regarding Special Education. See the button below for contact information.