Welcome to Special Education

Dear Educators, Parents and Community Members:

The Anchorage School District is dedicated to identifying all children who need special education services who live within the municipality. To that end, we are providing you with this Web site that explains special education services. In the 2004-05 academic year, our department will begin maintenance of a Special Education Policy and Procedure Web site This new section is designed for use by district staff and parents to locate special education state regulations and district policy and procedures.

Additionally, our department will distribute a new bimonthly newsletter entitled "Connections from Jerr", designed to assist educators and community members to stay informed about changes in our department personnel, policy and procedures. The electronic newsletter will travel by e-mail to each special educator's e-mail and be made available to the public on our department Web site at www.asdk12.org/depts/sped/.

When parents or community members have a concern about the academic or developmental progress of a student, they can review this site to determine whether they should inquire about special education services at their child's school. Parents or community members who wish additional information about special education services are urged to contact their child¹s school or the Anchorage School District STeP Center at 907- 742-3872; the STeP Center provides information resources to Students, Teachers and Parents. Additional information about special education or the Section 504 process can be gained by accessing the STeP Center's Web site at www.asdk12.org/depts/step/.

Together we can ensure that students who need assistance through the provision of special education services can be identified as early as possible. Thank you for taking the time to review our Web site.

Jerry Sjolander Executive Director Special Education Anchorage School District Connections from Jerr