Exceptional Children

The NC Department of Public Instruction acknowledges 14 disabling conditions, which include autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, developmental delay (relevant for children aged three through seven only), hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, serious emotional disability, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment (including blindness). Further elaboration on these disabilities, along with additional information and strategies, can be found on the NCDPI Exceptional Children’s website. 

For additional information regarding Child Find, or if you suspect your student may have a disability and need special education services and/or related services please contact Hickory City Schools Exceptional Children's Program Director, Rebecca Tuttle tuttlere@hickoryschools.net or 828-322-2855 X 245

Welcome to Hickory City Schools EC Department

If you are new to Hickory City Schools and have questions about special education, please contact your child’s school or the EC Program Director, Rebecca Tuttle at: 828-322- 2855 X 245

To facilitate a seamless transition for your student into Hickory City Schools, it's crucial to inform school staff if your child received EC services at their previous school and to complete a Consent for Release of Records. This consent enables timely access to pertinent information from your former district.
Additionally, during registration, please provide copies of the following documents for your student's new school:

• The most recent psychoeducational report, eligibility determination, evaluation, and/or reevaluation report.
• The current Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• Contact details for your student's previous school and school district.

Furnishing these materials will support a smooth transition between your student's old and new school, ensuring that appropriate services and supports are made available.

What to Expect 

For out-of-state students:

• After sharing your student's special education records, school staff will arrange a meeting with you to discuss comparable services, which are similar to or the same as those provided in your student's most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP). During this meeting, staff will outline the initial eligibility process that occurs when students transfer from out of state, including the timeline for determining initial eligibility in North Carolina (NC).
• If the student meets the eligibility criteria according to North Carolina guidelines during this meeting, an IEP will be developed accordingly.

For in-state students but new to Hickory City Schools:

• After sharing your student's special education records, upon your student's first day of school, the school staff will commence implementing your student's current North Carolina (NC) Individualized Education Program (IEP). You may receive an invitation to participate in a meeting to review and potentially revise your student's IEP. This meeting will focus on discussing your student's transition to the new school and assessing whether any adjustments to the current services and supports are necessary.
• In certain instances, the IEP Team may decide that a reevaluation is required to gather additional data for informed decision-making.
   

Parent Rights & Responsibilities in Special Education: NC Notice of Procedural Safeguards
This handbook aims to assist families in comprehending the rights and obligations pertinent to the special education journey. It includes explanations of common acronyms, terms frequently encountered in special education, and additional resources provided in the appendices.

If you suspect your student may have a disability requiring special education or related services, you have the right to request an evaluation in writing. Please address your request to your student's school principal, teacher, or Rebecca Tuttle, HCS Program Director of Exceptional Children's Services.
 

More information can be found at the Preschool Exceptional Children website.            

Preschool Contacts 

• Angela Clontz - EC Preschool Coordinator
• Jenny Morgan - EC Itinerant Teacher 
• Lara Autrey - Preschool Speech Therapist 

• Audiology
• Nursing
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Speech and Language

North Carolina Special Olympics Website