Caroline County Public Schools believes strongly that all children are entitled to educational opportunities. Furthermore, we believe children with disabilities are more alike than different from other children. It is our mission to ensure all children’s needs are served in Caroline County classrooms.
All children with disabilities deserve a free and appropriate educational program that recognizes individual needs and differences.
All children with disabilities will be provided special education programs and services at no cost to the individual, parent, or legal guardian.
We use a system of early intervention to identify students with disabilities and give them a strong start in public education.
We leverage interagency partnerships to deliver additional services and programs to students with disabilities.
We maintain a high standard of qualification and evaluation for our administrators, teachers, and specialists who work with children with disabilities.
The term “student with a disability” means a student, ages three through 21, evaluated as having a specific learning disability, other health impairment, autism, emotional disability, speech or language impairment, visual impairment including blindness, deafness, hearing impairment, deaf-blindness, orthopedic impairment, intellectual disability, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, and/or developmental delay; and who, because of that impairment, needs special education and related services.
The Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee seeks meaningful input from parents, community partners, service providers, educators, and administrators on local issues that affect the education and wellbeing of children with disabilities. SECAC operates as a partnership at the local level.
Our goal is to provide families of students with disabilities with awareness around topics such as education and advocacy. This group allows voices to be used in a positive, organized effort to help parents and professionals convey information and experiences to leadership, support the Department of Special Education in its goals, and advise the Board of Education and top-level decision-makers in Caroline County Public Schools. We hope you will consider joining us for any or all of the scheduled SECAC meetings below. Registration is not required but RSVP is appreciated. All meetings are open to the public.
For planning purposes, please RSVP to Casey Irby, Family Support Resource Coordinator
410-479-3609 or irby.casey@ccpsstaff.org if you plan on attending any of the events.
Caroline County Public Schools will provide Speech Pathology services through their special education department. Speech Pathology services will be provided to students attending private schools located within Caroline County for up to thirty minutes per week per student eligible for services and based upon the individual student’s need. All students qualifying for special education services between the ages three and four that are attending private schools within Caroline County are eligible to receive special instruction consultation services and Speech Pathology services (up to one half-hour session per week). The services will be provided in the child’s home school. These services may be provided virtually, at the availability of the service providers.
IEP teams will develop plans in collaboration with parents, private school personnel, CCPS personnel, and the student, when appropriate. Plans will be developed to address student needs. Parents will have the opportunity to enroll their children in CCPS (if eligible for enrollment) if the family chooses to receive all services recommended on the IEP. If the family chooses not to enroll their child in CCPS, or they are not eligible to enroll, services will be based on student need within the parameters of Number 3 of this agreement. Services would be identified on a “service plan” as opposed to an IEP.
Erica McDonald
Supervisor of Special Education
410.479.3246 x1146 | mcdonald.erica@ccpsstaff.org
Raquel Johnson
Coordinator of Special Education - Elementary
410-479-3246 x 1147 | johnson.raquel@ccpsstaff.org
Peggy Wittman
Coordinator of Special Education - Secondary
410-479-3246 x112 | wittman_margaret@ccpsstaff.org
