Special Programs
The Special Programs Department oversees Special Education, English Learner Services, 504 Accessibility Supports, McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth, Long Term Care and Treatment Programs, and Foster Care Student Supports for the Pendleton School District.
Julie Smith
Special Programs Director
(541) 966-3262
Meagan Miltenberger
Data Specialist
(541) 276-6711
Special Education Program
Pendleton School District provides a comprehensive special education program in conjunction and collaboration with General Education to ensure students develop skills and strategies for becoming independent productive citizens of the community through fluid and invisible inclusive services, supportive practices, and effective instruction.
- Child Find Notice (PDF)
- Special Education Report Card – English | Spanish (PDF) posted 5/23/2024
- 2023-24 Restraint and Seclusion Report (PDF)
- InterMountain Education Service District
- Tax Exemption Letter to Parents
- K-12 Procedural Safeguards
- PSD Special Education Brochure
English Learner Program
Our overarching program goal for English Learners is competency in reading, writing, speaking, listening and understanding interpersonal and academic English in order to achieve academic competency in the essential skills of reading, writing, math, and science through classroom instruction in English.
- Parent Guide for English Learners – English and Spanish versions
- Language Use Survey – English | Spanish (pdf)
- Bilingual Education IGBI (pdf)
- Public Appeals and Complaints about Alleged Violations of Standards LGA-AR (pdf)
- Public Complaints KL (pdf)
- Discrimination Complaint/ Grievance Procedure AC-AR (pdf)
- Annual English Language Learners Report 2022-23 (pdf) English | Spanish
- English Learner Local Plan of Service (pdf) English | Spanish
504 Accessibility Supports
School Child Development Specialists or Counselors are the primary contact at the school for Section 504 referrals. Section 504 is a nondiscrimination statute that addresses discriminatory actions such as different treatment, denials of access, disability-based harassment, and requires that disabled persons be provided equal opportunities as non disabled persons. To ensure an equal opportunity for qualified public school children with disabilities, the Section 504 regulations require that a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) be provided.
- Parent/Student Rights (PDF)
McKinney-Vento Act: Homeless Education Program
The McKinney-Vento Act’s Education of Homeless Children and Youth Program ensures that homeless children and youth are provided a free, appropriate public education, despite lack of a fixed place of residence or a supervising parent or guardian. The state public school admission statute assuring the right of homeless and other children and youth in similar circumstances to enroll in schools is ORS 339.115(7).
- If your family lives in any of the following situations:
- In a Shelter
- In a motel or campground due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodation
- In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
- Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship
- Your school-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections
- For more information, call Meagan Miltenberger at 541-966-3261.
- http://www.oregon.gov/ode/schools-and-districts/grants/ESEA/McKinney-Vento/Pages/default.aspx
The ESSA provisions relating to students in foster care include:
- Allowing students in foster care to remain in the school district /school of origin even when the foster home placements change.
- Immediate enrollment of students in foster care after a school move.
- Foster care point of contact in every state education agency as well as each school district.
- Plans for school district/school of origin transportation to maintain a foster student attendance in the school district/school of origin.
- Tracking achievement and graduation data for students in foster care
Talented and Gifted Program
In Pendleton School District we recognize that every student comes to us as an individual with unique abilities, talents, and needs. We believe it is our responsibility, as educators, to provide appropriate instructional programs and supportive environments allowing and encouraging every child to realize his/her potential. Pendleton School is committed to providing a quality education for all students.
We use a Multi-Tiered Systems approach to identify students who may potentially qualify for our Talented and Gifted Programs. For more information contact the Director of Special Programs, Julie Smith, at 541-966-3262.
Pendleton School District Special Education Advisory Council (PSD SEAC)
Mission:
The mission of the Pendleton Special Education Advisory Committee is to facilitate collaboration between students, parents & families, staff, the Board of Education, and the community in order to promote inclusion, understanding of, respect for, and support of all children with special needs in our community. We offer advice, provide information, and make available resources to families of children with special needs. We encourage honest and effective communication, understanding, and mutual respect.
Bylaws:
The SEAC will provide input and make recommendations on special education policy, programs, and practices to the district.
SEAC members will act as liaisons to share comments and concerns with school leaders.
A secretary will be appointed to coordinate activities, attend meetings, and take minutes at SEAC meetings.
Meeting minutes and agendas will be distributed prior to all meetings.
Meetings will be held at a variety of times and locations will be announced on the district website.
Notices will be available in every school and be distributed to interested parents via print and email.
The SEAC will work to ensure that membership reflects the linguistic, religious, racial, cultural and socio-economic diversity of the school community and includes members from elementary, middle, high school, and transition age families.
Operating Procedures:
The Director of Special Programs will continue to facilitate as the SEAC develops goals and action plans.
The group will use a simple majority vote for decision making with whoever is able to attend the meeting.
Email will be utilized to communicate information. Email will also be a way for people to weigh in on decisions and vote.
New members can apply at any time and be considered for appointment on the committee.
