Admissions Process  

Enrollment- Students Ages 3 to 21

Criteria

PSD provides a unique language and communication environment for students with educationally significant hearing losses. PSD's learning environment is accessible primarily through sign language and also through spoken language as appropriate.

Students appropriate for placement at PSD are:

• Students who are deaf or hard of hearing and require the unique language and communication environment offered at PSD for educational purposes.
• Students whose primary receptive modality is audition and whose primary expressive language is spoken English and who also require sign language support to learn.
• Students whose families express a preference for the unique language, communication, social and cultural environment provided by PSD.
• Students who are deaf or hard of hearing and who also have diverse cognitive abilities, learning differences, behavioral health needs, or complicated physical or health conditions which may be addressed through accommodations and modifications within the context of the PSD communication and learning environment.

While every effort is made to provide programs for children referred for enrollment, there may be some children for whom PSD is not an appropriate program.  Students not initially accepted may have their application reconsidered later.

 

Process

In order to be considered for admission to PSD, a student must be referred in writing by their Local Education Agency (LEA). PSD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ancestry or veteran status.  The PSD enrollment process is consistent with all applicable provisions of IDEA 2004 and Chapter 14 of the Pennsylvania School Code, Special Education Regulations.

Steps:

1. Upon receiving a referral, PSD requests school records from the referring School District and other appropriate agencies with family/guardian permission.
2. PSD then convenes its Multidisciplinary Team to evaluate and assess the student's language and communication needs, current educational level of functioning, and other learning, social, emotional, behavioral, physical and cultural needs. A school visit may be scheduled.
3. If a student is accepted, a letter from PSD will be sent to the referring School District and family.
4. The referring School District will schedule an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meeting and, if appropriate, recommend placement at PSD.
5. The School District of residence forwards the Notice of Recommended Educational Placement (NOREP) to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for approval.
6. All students must have the immunizations required by the PDE prior to the first day of attendance.
7. For students requiring additional supports (one-to-one aides, wrap-around or nursing services) these supports must be provided and paid for by the School District of residence or through an appropriate community agency.
8. Continued enrollment is contingent upon annual IEP evaluation by family, PSD staff and LEA representative.

For more information, please call 215-951-4732 v/tty or email us at gbober@psd.org