Special Programs 

 PTAA Charter schools are public schools of choice: parents select the school their child attends. Families and community members are welcomed in charter schools and are treated as partners in their child's education.

As public schools, charter schools are required to enroll and serve students with disabilities in the same manner as traditional public schools. Because charter schools are designed to offer innovative educational strategies, they are uniquely situated to provide individualized support to meet the needs of students with disabilities and other unique challenges.

Child Find

Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy ensures that all children residing within the PTAA boundaries who have disabilities, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services are identified, located, and evaluated. This requirement applies to:

  1. Homeless children;
  2. Children who are wards of the state;
  3. Children attending private schools;
  4. Highly mobile children (including migrant children); and
  5. Children who are suspected of being in need of special education, but who are advancing from grade to grade.

20 U.S.C. 1412(a)(3)(A); 34 CFR 300.111(a)(1)(i), (c).  

Special Education

Students with physical or mental disabilities may face academic hurdles for a variety of reasons, but parents can take advantage of federal laws to help ensure their children's special needs are met. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the federal special education statue, ensures that a student found to be eligible for special education services receives an individual education plan (IEP) determined by an Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Committee. The student shall be provided a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). 

Providing Assistance to Students Who Have Learning Difficulties or Need Special Education Services (required statement)

If a student is experiencing learning difficulties, the parent may contact [Heather Sumrow, Special Education Coordinator, 300 Aerobic Ln., Greenville, TX, 903-257-3920 to learn about Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy ’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of support options, including referral for a special education evaluation. Students having difficulty in the regular classroom should be considered for tutorial, compensatory, and other academic or behavior support services that are available to all students, including a process based on Response to Intervention (“RtI”). The implementation of RtI has the potential to have a positive impact on Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy ’s ability to meet the needs of all struggling students.

At any time, a parent is entitled to request an evaluation for special education services by presenting a written request to Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy, Attn: Heather Sumrow, Special Education Coordinator, 300 Aerobic Ln., Greenville, TX, 903-257-3920 or an administrative employee.

504

Section 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is designed to help parents of students with physical or mental impairments in public schools, or publicly funded private schools, work with educators to design customized educational plans. These 504 plans legally ensure that students will be treated fairly at school. PTAA provides necessary accommodations to students with disabilities that are not severe enough to qualify them for special education, but which nevertheless are substantially limiting their learning or other major life activities.  If need is established or develops, the 504 Commnittee shall develop an appropriate Accommodation Plan for a student whose disability is hindering access to a free and public education, extra-curricular activities

Dyslexia and Related Disorders

From time to time, students may be tested and, when appropriate, treated for dyslexia and related disorders in accordance with programs, rules and standard approved by the state. Parents will be notified should PTAA determine a need to identify or assess their student for dyslexia and related disorders. 

Assessment of a student for dyslexia triggers the protections of Section 504. Dyslexia program eligibility and placement is determined by a committee of knowledgeable people - a properly constituted 504 Committee.

English Language Learners

For students who are Limited English Proficient (LEP), PTAA shall provide all required supportive instruction with the goal of full proficiency in the English language and early exit.   PTAA shall comply with  applicable federal and state laws including Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), the Equal Educational Opportunities Act  of 1974, the requirements of Texas Education Code (TEC) Charter 29 Subchapter B, and Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §§ 89.1201-.1265.    

 Gifted and Talented

A gifted/talented student is a child or youth who performs at or shows the potential for performing at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who

  • exhibits high performance capability in an intellectual, creative, or artistic area;
  • possesses an unusual capacity for leadership; or
  • excels in a specific academic field. (Texas Education Code §29.121)

PTAA recognizes the needs of the GT Learner both through placement and curriculum. Project based and hands on learning allow the GT student to achieve a deeper and broader understanding of concepts. A rigorous adherence to scientific thinking and logic based frameworks encourage the gifted student to develop at an accelerated rate.