• Public Notice: Services & Rights for Students with Disabilities

    Students with disabilities have rights and safeguards under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students who qualify as a person with a disability are protected from discrimination and are guaranteed a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to ensure equal opportunity to access and derive meaningful benefit from public education, as compared to non-disabled peers.  

    Children under Parkway's jurisdiction, including students attending non-public schools, between the ages of 3 and 21 may be eligible for special education and related services. The Special School district of St. Louis County (SSD) provides special education and related services (e.g., physical and occupational therapy, speech and language services, social work services, psychological counseling) for students qualifying as a person with a disability under the IDEA. Parkway implements the provisions of Section 504. 

    Parkway and the SSD share the responsibility of locating, evaluating, and identifying children with disabilities under the IDEA, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children (e.g., migrant, homeless), children who are wards of the state, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. Disabilities include Autism, Deaf/Blindness, Emotional Disturbance, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disabilities, Speech and/or Language Impairments, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment/Blindness, and Young Child with Developmental Delay. Parents/guardians may refer a child for an evaluation by contacting the school staff (e.g., principal, asst. principal, school counselor) and are entitled to written notification regarding proposed or refused evaluation and placement decisions. 

    All students with disabilities are served in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and attend Parkway schools unless determined otherwise by the IEP or 504 team. The disabilities teams are charged with determining the necessary services, accommodations, modifications, related aids and adaptive equipment to ensure FAPE. The opportunity to participate in the Parkway curriculum, extra-curricular activities, earn credits, and obtain a high school diploma is available to all students. 

    Parkway and the SSD provide assurance of the provision of information and referral services necessary to assist the State Education Department in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps Program. 

    Parkway and the SSD provide that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the districts for the purpose of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE under the IDEA and Section 504 may be inspected and reviewed by parents/guardians. Additionally, parents/guardians may request an amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the MO Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

    A Local Compliance Plan is in effect to ensure implementation of the state regulations for the IDEA. The plan contains the policies and procedures of Parkway and the SSD regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agencys' assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act.

    The rights of students with disabilities are further explained in the State Plan for Special Education from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and various Parkway Board Policies (ACG.G, ACGA.G, IHBA.BP, JKF.BP, JRA.BP).

    To review the plan or obtain this notice in an alternate language, contact the Parkway Special Services Department 314-415-5295 or the SSD 314-989-8100