Waterford Public Schools actively seeks to locate, identify, and refer children from birth to age 21 who require special education and related services in order to assist them and their families.  If you are concerned about a child’s development, you are encouraged to contact your local elementary school to receive information about Early Childhood Screenings.  If the child is younger than 3 years of age, you may chose instead to contact the Connecticut Birth to Three System at 1-800-505-7000.

As part of our efforts to identify preschool children who have disabilities and qualify to receive special education, Waterford Public Schools conducts its own early childhood screening program for children between the ages of 3 and 5 years.  Preschool screenings are offered during the months of October, January and April at each of Waterford’s elementary schools.

A parent or staff member who suspect a student of having a disability may request a Student-Teacher Assistance Team (STAT) meeting.  A STAT meeting is the process for reviewing a child’s needs, reviewing progress, planning strategies and providing documentation of all the efforts made to assist the student.  The STAT team may provide additional strategies to the general education teacher and/or parent in order to support the student.  This may include accommodations being made to the student’s educational program.  Accommodations include a change in teaching or testing procedures in order to provide the student with equal access and the opportunity to demonstrate his/her knowledge and skills. The student may require ongoing use of a district service provider and/or modifications to his/her schooling. Modifications refers to more significant services that changes what the student is expected to learn or demonstrate, a PAS (Plan for Alternative Strategies) plan will be developed.  The STAT team process is clearly a process designed to support the general education student and must be clearly distinguished from the (PPT) Planning and Placement Team process.  The PPT process is specifically designed for referral and planning/placement for special education students.

Referrals to the Planning and Placement Team shall be accepted from all appropriate school personnel, as well as from a child’s parent(s); or from a physician, clinical or social worker, provided the parent permits in order to determine a child’s eligibility for special education and related services.