Washington Online School Resources
Insight School of Washington offers a host of services to help your student get the support they need to thrive in school and beyond. Below is a list of specific services, providers, and contact information.
Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Coordinator / Special Programs Manager
Child Find Coordinator
English Learner Coordinator (ELL)
Foster / Homeless / Migrant Liaison
Special Education Coordinator
Special Education Records Specialist
Title IX Coordinator
Request for Parent/Guardian Interpreter Services
Request for Parent/Guardian Disability Accommodations
Annual Public Notice of Special Services & Programs
In accordance with federal and state regulations, ISWA will provide an annual public notice to families informing them of ISWA’s child find responsibilities, procedures involved in the identification of educational disabilities, and determination of students’ service and support needs. Families are encouraged to review the following information that describes these regulations. Information regarding ISWA’s internal practices to comply with these will be available in ISWA’s Special Programs Manuals and Handbooks.
Stride and ISWA make every effort to identify students needing additional support including English Language Development during the enrollment process. Finding the children who need special education and related services is a basic function of the special education system. Without an effective child find process in place, the structure of the entire system is compromised. This process is called Child Find. Child Find questions are completed by the parent within the online enrollment portal. During the enrollment process, parents/guardians are asked if their student currently has or previously had a 504 or an IEP, and/or if the student received English Language support. For any student who the parent provides a positive response, ISWA staff explore the student’s academic history to determine if the student should be referred to the ELD Coordinator, the 504 Coordinator, and/or the Special Programs Manager. Parents, Learning Coaches, and Staff may directly refer a student by contacting the student’s Professional School Counselor.
Pursuant to WAC 392-172A-0240, all school districts in Washington State must conduct child find activities calculated to reach all students with a suspected disability for the purpose of locating, evaluating, and identifying students who are in need of special education and related services.
Special Education (IEP) or Service Agreements (504 Plans)
Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified school personnel, parents/guardians, and other relevant service providers hold an evaluation determination meeting to come to agreement on whether the student meets eligibility for one of the disability categories under IDEA.
If the student is eligible and requires specially designed instruction, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be coordinated; during which the IEP team will review and finalize the proposed details of an appropriate educational program to meet the student’s documented needs.
For students confirmed to present with special education needs, once the IEP team agrees on the IEP and the student’s educational placement, a consent for IEP services will be sent to the parent/guardian for signature. This must be signed and returned to ISWA. ISWA can only proceed with implementing the student’s IEP (or 504 Plan) upon receipt of the consent for IEP services. Some students are found to present with one or more disability, but do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined under IDEA (special education); however, their disability may still require ISWA to develop a 504 Plan to outline the special provisions a student may require for adaptations and/or accommodations in school-based instruction, facilities, and/or activities.
Special Education Grievances or Disputes
ISWA recognizes that despite best intentions of all parties, disagreements or miscommunications may arise between the school-based team and ISWA families and/or students. Should this situation occur, the ISWA special education case manager will initiate an IEP team discussion where the specific details contributing to any educational concern are fully discussed and addressed as the entire team determines what they would consider to be most appropriate for the student. Collaboration is a primary focus for this type of meeting, and the ISWA Special Education Team seeks to establish and maintain the confidence of its families to always serve its students in order to maximize their success.
Special Education Dispute Resolution Options
If you believe ISWA has failed to provide a service identified on your student’s IEP, believe that ISWA denied your student FAPE, or believe ISWA has not met any other federal or state requirements related to special education, then you may consider using more formal dispute resolution options in order to solve your disagreement.
About the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:
- Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason.
- Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations.
- Children and youth abandoned in hospitals.
- Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches)
- Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train stations.
- Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations.
Children and youth who qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act have the right to:
- Receive a free, appropriate public education.
- Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
- Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
- Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference.
- If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
- Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
- Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.
If you believe your children may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available.