AGE OF MAJORITY
When students reach the age of 18, legal rights regarding education move from the parents to the student. If the parent(s) believe their son or daughter is incapable of making sound educational or independent living decisions there are legal alternatives.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Alterations in how instructional content is demonstrated which provide an equal opportunity for students with disabilities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

ASSESSMENT
The gathering of information to determine the student’s eligibility for special education and transition service needs. This may include tests, observations, interviews and review of school records or student work samples. Must be culturally, developmentally and linguistically appropriate.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
An alternative to a diploma, but not equal to a diploma.

CITIZENSHIP STANDARDS
Measures of individual performance which is determined at the local school site. Students may be required to meet these standards to participate in graduation and/or other activities.

COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CAC)
An advisory group of parents, community members and District staff.

COMMUNITY BASED INSTRUCTION (CBI)
Instruction in the skills needed to function in community settings. Instruction takes place in the community and in the classroom.

CORE CURRICULUM
A predetermined set of skills, knowledge and abilities taught to all students.

DESIGNATED INSTRUCTION AND SERVICES (DIS)
Specific services, also called related services, which are required to assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education or general education. Services include transportation, speech-language pathology, audiological services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, social work services, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes only. The term includes school health services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training.

DISABILITY
A physical, sensory, cognitive or affective impairment that qualifies the student for special education.

DOCUMENTED
Written.

EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR (ESY)
Special education services in excess of the regular academic year.

FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION (FAPE)
The federal provision for special education and related services for students at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge to a parent, student or guardian.

FUNCTIONAL LIVING SKILLS
A curriculum or program for teaching students to function as independently as possible in their daily lives.

FUNCTIONAL VOCATIONAL EVALUTION
An assessment process that provides information about job or career interests, aptitudes and skills. Information may be gathered through situational assessment, observation or formal measures.

GOALS
Broad or general statements which describe what needs to be learned by the student.

INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP)
A written plan prepared at an IEP meeting that includes the student's present level of educational performance, eligibility for special education, annual instructional goals and objectives, services to be provided, needed transition services, type of instructional setting, and provisions for integration/mainstreaming in general education programs.

INDIVIDUAL TRANSITION PLAN (ITP)
Developed for students age 14 (or younger, if appropriate), and updated annually. Includes a statement of the transition service needs of the student, related to the IEP, that focuses on the student's course of study (such as participation in advanced placement courses or vocational programs). Beginning at age 16 (or younger, if appropriate), the ITP provides a statement of needed transition services for the child, including a statement of the interagency responsibilities or any needed community linkages, as appropriate.

IDEA
Individuals with Disability Educational Act. Federal special education law that provides funding to states and sets procedural requirements for education agencies. This law, re-authorized PL94-142, expands programs, educational benefits, mandated transition services and assistive technology services to be included in the IEP. It was reauthorized in 1997 and again in 2002.

INFORMAL ASSESSMENT
Procedures such as classroom observation, interviews, portfolios of student work, or teacher-made tests which have not usually been used with large groups of students and which do not necessarily have a standard set of instructions for their use and interpretation.

INTERAGENCY LINKAGES
Activities and processes established between agencies to assist in coordinating services to meet the needs of students being served by two or more agencies.

LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT (LRE)
A requirement in both state and federal laws that to the maximum extent appropriate, a student with a disability should be educated in the general education setting, including access to extracurricular activities, with nondisabled peers. Separate schooling and other removal from the general environment should occur only when the nature or severity of the disability prevents satisfactory education in general classes even with the use of supplementary aids and services.

MODIFICATION
Substantial changes in the instructional content, level or performance criteria for students with disabilities.

MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
An educational process designed to foster and facilitate an awareness, affirmation and acceptance of cultural diversity.

PARENT
The person(s) having legal custody such as natural parents, the custodial parent, legal guardian, or District-appointed surrogate parent of a student.

POST SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
What the student wants to do after high school; where the student wants to live, work, recreate, and participate in his or her community.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
Changes or adjustments in a work or school site, program, or job that makes it possible for an otherwise qualified employee or student with a disability to perform the duties or tasks required.

RELATED SERVICES
Specific services, also called designated instruction and services, which are required to assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education or general education. These include transportation, speech-language pathology, audiological services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, social work services, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes only. The term includes school health services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training.

SPECIAL EDUCATION
Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a student with a disability.

TRANSITION
The passage from one program, setting or environment to another. In special education, may include: passage from one school to another school, movement from a special day class setting to a general education setting, graduation from a high school program into a work environment, or other significant changes for a student.

TRANSITION SERVICES
A coordinated set of activities for students, beginning at age 14 (or younger, if determined appropriate by the IEP team), designed within an outcome-oriented process that promotes movement from high school to adult living.

TRANSITION TEAM
A collaborating team of special education teachers, support staff, transition staff, parents and community agency representatives who are jointly charged with the responsibility of helping the student plan his/her transition from high school to post-secondary education or employment.