Confidentiality of Information

The SDs, IUs, and CS’s maintain records concerning all children enrolled in the school, including students with disabilities. All records are maintained in the strictest confidentiality. Your consent, or consent of an eligible child who has reached the age of majority under State law, must be obtained before personally identifiable information is released, except as permitted under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The age of majority in Pennsylvania is 21. Each participating agency must protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction stages. One official at each participating agency must assume responsibility for ensuring the confidentiality of any personally identifiable information. Each participating agency must maintain, for public inspection, a current listing of the names and positions of those employees within the agency who have access to personally identifiable information. Uninterrupted Scholars Act, which became law in January 2013, allows a district to disclose education records of a student to an agency caseworker or representative from the state or a local child welfare agency or to a tribal authority if that person is determined to have a right to access and the agency/tribal authority is legally responsible for the student’s care and protection.

For additional information related to student records, the parent can refer to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

This notice is only a summary of the Special Education services, evaluation and screening activities, and rights and protections pertaining to children with disabilities, children thought to be disabled, and their parents. For more information or to request evaluation or screening of a public or private school child, contact the responsible school entity listed below. For preschool age children, information, screenings and evaluations requested may be obtained by contacting the Intermediate Unit (570-876-9268).

Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19

Abington Heights/ Karen Bukoski (570)585-8278 Blue Ridge/ Margot Parsons (570)465-3141 Carbondale Area/ Heather Talerico (570)282-4500 Dunmore/ Ms. Courtney Degnon (570)207-9590 Elk Lake/ Marybeth Howell (570)278-1106 Forest City Regional/Michelle Lesjack (570)785-2444 Lackawanna Trail/ Amie Talarico (570)945-5184 Lakeland/ Margot Parsons (570)254-9485 Mid Valley/ Carlos Lopez (570)307-2165 Montrose Area/ Patrick Matthews (570)278-6219 Mountain View/ Erica Loftus (570)434-8537 North Pocono/ Katrina Aiello (570)842-3957 Old Forge/ Michelle Hopkins (570)457-6721 Riverside/ Kristin Samsell (570)562-2121 Scranton City/ Ann Genett (570)348-3695 Susquehanna Community/ Elizabeth Shivock (570)853-4921 Valley View/ Christina Burak (570)876-4110 Wallenpaupack Area/ Tanya Carrelle (570)226-4557 Wayne Highlands/ Amanda Kerna (570)253-3402 Western Wayne/ Jennifer DeNike (570)937-3192

NEIU 19/Ms. Kelly Dickey (570)876-9215 NEIU 19 Early Intervention/Ms. Colleen Penzone (570)876-9268 NEIU 19 Non-Public/Ms. Eliza Vagni (570)876-9220

Fell Charter School/Ms. Mary Jo Walsh (570)282-5199 Howard Gardner MI Charter School/ Ms. Maria Rozaieski (570)941-4100

The school entity or charter school will not discriminate in employment, educational programs, or activities based on race, color, national origin, age, sex, handicap, creed, marital status or because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam war. No preschool, elementary or secondary school pupil enrolled in a school district, Intermediate Unit, or charter school program shall be denied equal opportunity to participate in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, color, handicap, creed, national origin, marital status or financial hardship.