The Special Education Department

  • The special education department is designed to help our students with special needs reach their highest potential and be as successful as possible. We provide accommodations and modifications via the IEP to ensure student success. We also offer learning support seminar classes as well as direct instruction Math and English classes. Special Education in the Coatesville Area School District is a collaborative effort involving the school, family and community in developing diversified programming to all special education students in the least restrictive environment.

  • Special Education Resources for Students and Parents

    Vocational and college planning for students with disabilities can require extra steps and many families may need help. The following websites may be useful for parents and students, but don't forget the resources available right at CASH. The guidance department along with the student's case manager can offer a wealth of information. Do not hesitate to call us with questions or concerns regarding transition.

    SAT/AP Accommodations

    If a student is seeking accommodations for the SAT or AP Exams they must adhere to the following procedure:

    At any time in grades 10-12 students must complete a College Board Student Eligibility Form. This can be obtained through the guidance office or the student's IEP case manager. Parents and students complete pages 1 & 2 of the form and return it to the case manager. They will complete pages 3 & 4 and mail the form to College Board. The College Board reviews the form and decides if the student is eligible for accommodations. Only one Student Eligibility Form needs to be completed for each student. It will cover all College Board testing programs for as long as the school verifies annually that the guidelines continue to be met. If approved for accommodations, students will be assigned an SSD eligibility code. This code must be used when registering for any College Board testing.

    Websites of Interest

    Post- Secondary Services for Students with Disabilities – Available at individual college websites

    Voter Registration: Age 18: www.chesco.net
    Chester County Voter Registration Office
    601 Westtown Road, Suite 150
    West Chester, PA 19382-4535
    (610) 344-6410

    Selective Service Registration : Males Age 18 – www.sss.gov

    Office of Vocational Rehabilitation: www.dli.state.pa.us/ovr
    1875 New Hope Street
    Norristown, PA 19401
    (484) 250-4340

    Chester County Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation – www.chesco.org
    610 Westtown Road
    West Chester, PA 19380
    (610)-344-6265

    Autism Alliance of Chester County www.autismallianceofchestercounty.org
    Box 765
    Downingtown, PA 19335
    (484) 237-5550

    Other Sites

    Study Skills Tips!

    Five Day Test Preparation Plan
    Here is a five-day plan you can use to prepare for a test. The five-day plan shows what you should do each day to get ready for the test. If you follow the five-day plan, each day you will find yourself more ready to take the test. You will be so ready for the test that you will be looking forward to taking it!

    Here is what you need to do each day:
    Day Five – Read the notes you took in class. Read the notes you took from your textbook. Read over all the handouts provided by your teacher. On this day you should identify all the important information you must know and remember for the test. Highlight or underline the important information in your notes.
    Day Four – Use techniques you have learned such as visualization, repetition, mnemonics, and application, to help you remember the important information you identified on Day Five. Review your notes until you can remember important information. The more information there is to remember and the more difficult the information is, the more times you will need to review it.
    Day Three – Rewrite the important information in a brief form using the fewest words you can. Use abbreviations wherever possible. Review your rewritten notes at least twice on this day.
    Day Two – Make a list of questions you think your teacher will ask on the test. Write answers for these questions.
    Day One – This is the day you take the test. Review your rewritten notes from Day Three. Also review the questions and answers you prepared on Day Two. A good time to do this is while eating breakfast or while riding to school. Just before the test, review anything you are having difficulty remembering.

    Did you know??

    The Special Education teachers at the campus are instrumental in helping students with a variety of disabilities reach for the stars and achieve accomplishments they may not have thought possible prior to high school. Rather than being in the minority, there are many people in the world who have similar disabilities and have learned to reach their full potential thanks to helpful teachers and strong motivation. Take a look at some famous people who have learned to overcome their disabilities to be the best that they can be.

    Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects many people, it manifests primarily as a difficulty with written language, particularly with reading and spelling. Dyslexia occurs at all levels of intelligence.
    Famous People with Dyslexia

    People with Asperger’s Syndrome are often described, as having social skills deficits, reluctance to listen, difficulty understanding social give and take, and other core characteristics.
    Famous people with Aspergers Syndrome