Special education is a service for any student 3-21 years of age considered to have a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students being served must meet the eligibility criteria in any of the following areas: autism, deaf/blind, emotional and behavioral disorder, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, orthopedic, other health impairment, severe emotional and behavioral disorder, specific learning disability, significant development delay, speech/language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment. Pike County’s students with disabilities are provided specialized instruction and related services by a dedicated staff of professionals and support personnel. These teachers and paraprofessionals work collaboratively with school staff and parents to assure that students with disabilities are provided appropriate learning experiences and opportunities. Please contact Pike County Schools’ Special Education Department for information on the referral process for any child, aged birth through 21, who is suspected to have a disability. For more information, call 770-567-8489.
In compliance with the Individual Disabilities Act (IDEA), the Georgia Records Act, and the Pike County School System policy on destruction of data collected, maintained, or used in the provision of a free and appropriate public education of students with disabilities, the Pike County Special Education Department destroys records at the end of the year that a previous student reaches the age of twenty-five. Records retained on students who were enrolled in a special education program in the Pike County School System are no longer needed for education purposes after this age.
Pike County “CHILD FIND” meeting:
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that local school systems locate and provide consultation to parents of students who have a disability or parents who suspect their child may have a disability, who attend parentally placed private schools (in the local school system’s district) or are home schooled (and reside in Pike County). This consultation is also to be provided to administrators of any private school which is located in Pike County. Therefore, the Pike County School System is hosting a “Child Find” meeting on Monday, January 29, 2024 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The meeting will take place at the Pike County Board of Education Office which is located at 16 Jackson Street, Zebulon. The Director of Special Education will be there to provide information on special education services, evaluation procedures, and proportionate share. For more information call Jessica Thomka at 770-567-8489.
