Special Services

Welcome to Special Services

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the Chief Leschi Schools Special Services department is to help each child be capable, connected, and contributing to their growth, their tribe, and their community.

The purpose of Special Services is to provide instructional support and related services to help each student achieve their greatest potential.

Goals

Our Goals

The following are the goals of the Chief Leschi Schools Special Services department:

Provide early interventions to ensure that students are appropriately identified and provided services.
Ensure that students are appropriately taught in the least restrictive settings to meet their needs.
Document that each child is making progress toward his or her individual education plan (IEP) goals.
Use active case management to individually support each child’s progress toward mastery on aligned academic standards.
Deliver appropriate transitional services to students for successful post-secondary placements.
Provide comprehensive related services to increase attainment of IEP goals.
Provide extended school years.
Increase self-advocacy and self-reliance for each student with an individual education plan.

Below is a copy of the BIE Procedural safeguards. These are designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities and their parents during the process of developing and implementing the IEP. Please feel free to print this copy or reach out to the Special Services office for a printed version.

What are our services?

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Occupational Therapy, also referred to as “OT" is available through the process of referral and evaluation of students with fine motor deficits, gross motor deficits, and/or sensory support, in order to progress academically.

Speech-Language Pathology Services (SLP)

Speech-Language Pathology Services are available through the process of referral and evaluation of children who are identified as having speech or language impairments. Speech-Language Pathology Services, otherwise known as “Speech” or “SLP Services”, provides services for the habilitation or prevention of communication impairments that may prevent students from socializing with others and delay academic or developmental growth.

Child Find

Child Find is the screening process of early identification to ensure that schools are identifying the needs of students as early as 3 years old. Chief Leschi Schools are required to identify, locate, and evaluation all students with potential disabilities that may impede learning. Chief Leschi Schools are obligated to identify students, even if Chief Leschi Schools are unable to provide special education services to the student. Due to lack of programming at CLS, some students may need to return to their neighborhood school district to receive services necessary to excel in their developmental and educational needs.

Behavioral

Records Request

To request official Special Education or 504 Records, please email a signed records request form to Special Services at

Release of Student Information Form

Parental Rights Under Section 504

Records Notice

Chief Leschi Schools Special Education Records for students who have left the Special Education program during the School Year of 2018/2019 will be destroyed on June 10, 2025, per the Washington State Retention Schedule and WAC 392-172A-05235.
To obtain the records, the former student (if over 18) or guardian (if under 18) must pick the records up or mail a signed Release of Student Records Form (on our website) to 5625 52nd Street E. Puyallup, WA 98371 Attn: Student Records requesting the records be mailed. In either case, a photo ID is required. Please call 253-445-6000 X301, SPEDRecords@leschischools.org, or Fax to 253-445-2378.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Special Education? Special education is specially designed instruction that addresses the unique needs of a student eligible to receive special education services. Special education is provided at no cost to parents and includes related services a student needs to access her/his education program.

Students with disabilities who are determined eligible for special education and related services are entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Services are provided to eligible students according to the Individualized Education Program (IEP) in preschools, elementary, and secondary schools.

How do students qualify for Special Education? There are 13 categories under which students may be eligible for services. For a student to be eligible for services, the disability must significantly affect their educational performance. The disability categories are listed in the IDEA (Individual Disabilities Education Act):

Autism
Deaf/Blindness
Developmental Delay
Emotional Disturbance
Hearing Impairments/Deafness
Intellectual Disabilities
Multiple Disabilities
Orthopedic Impairments
Other Health Impairments
Specific Learning Disabilities
Speech or Language Impairments
Traumatic Brain Injury
Visual Impairments

Having a disability doesn’t automatically qualify a student for Special Education Services. Students must meet all three of the following criteria:

The student must have a disability or disabilities.
The student’s disability/disabilities significantly affect educational performance.
The student’s unique needs cannot be addressed through a traditional classroom setting, even when given individual accommodations.

What Related Services does Chief Leschi have to Offer? Related Services are services that assist students with a disability to benefit from Special Education. Chief Leschi offers Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy services.

How can I help my child if she/he are experiencing difficulties in school?