Special Education ESA

Special Education ESA2020-03-06T14:20:42-08:00

Meeting Special Needs.

About the ESA

About the ESA

The ESD 112 Specialized Education ESA is unique in Washington State. This ESA provides a free and appropriate education to students that are eligible for special education services in 28 districts that have joined together to pool resources (i.e., staff, equipment, expertise, materials, etc.). The ESA serves districts’ children with disabilities and their families effectively and economically.

History

The cooperative began furnishing itinerant services in 1972. With the addition of classroom services in 1984, ESD 112 became a direct service district for participating resident districts in Southwest Washington and extending the cooperative’s benefits to include:

  • More flexible, effective and efficient use of staff and other resources
  • All member districts, regardless of size or rural location, have equal access to all services
  • It’s a guarantee – all children receive services
  • No single member takes the full cost of an expensive placement since all costs are shared
  • Members receive administrative service without the addition of extra duties to a principal or hiring a special education administrator
  • Legal and technical expertise available to members at any time

In 2003, the ESA began offering services outside of the Southwest Washington area.

Leadership

The ESA is governed by an elected chair and representative five-member executive advisory committee comprised of participating districts’ superintendents. Although districts agree to pool their fiscal resources and share in staff, materials and resources, all members receive services based on needs, not a pro rata portion of their contributions.

ESA Staff

The ESA hires highly qualified professionals and supervises all special education staff including all teachers, paraeducators, coordinators, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, and school psychologists, as well as budgeting and expending resources for member districts.

Find your passion: work in special education

Services

ESA Services

In addition to hiring and managing qualified staff, the ESA budgets and expends resources for eligible students in school districts participating as ESA members. The ESA provides special education and related services in a manner that is consistent with school district and building goals and provides focused knowledge and expertise in research-based, best practices in special education.

The ESA strives to ensure appropriate special education for all children with disabilities in all member districts. A continuum of services gives parents in our rural schools a full range of options from home services to out-of-district placements, if and when needed.

What the ESA does:

  • Provides special education services consistent with building and/or district goals
  • Hiring and supervising special education staff
  • Identifying eligible students
  • Budgeting and expending resources for schools in participating districts
  • More flexible, effective and efficient use of staff and other resources
  • All member districts, regardless of size or rural location, have equal access to all services
  • It’s a guarantee – all children receive services
  • No single member takes the full cost of an expensive placement since all costs are shared
  • Members receive administrative service without the addition of extra duties to a principal or hiring a special education administrator
  • Legal and technical expertise available to members at any time

Child Identification Procedures (Child Find)

As a member of the ESD 112 Special Education ESA, member school districts conduct childfind activities for the purpose of locating, evaluating, and identifying individuals with a suspected disability who are residing within the district’s boundaries, whether or not they are enrolled in the public school system. Childfind activities apply to individuals birth through 21 years who are not currently receiving special education and related services. Parents having concerns about their child’s health, hearing, intellectual functioning, language, learning, movement, serious behavioral needs, speech, or vision can contact the principal in their child’s school or contact the Educational Service District 112 at 800-233-0067.

If your family is living in a temporary situation, you may contact the district where you are currently staying for a screening.

ESA Members

ESA Members

The ESA 112 Special Education ESA provides special education services to children with disabilities in 28 member districts across the region and state.

Member Districts

Southwest Washington

Centerville
Glenwood
Green Mountain
Kalama
Klickitat
Lyle
Mill A
Mt. Pleasant
Naselle-Grays River Valley
Ocean Beach
Raymond
Roosevelt
Skamania
Stevenson-Carson
Toutle Lake
Trout Lake
Wahkiakum
White Salmon
Wishram

North Central Washington

Bickleton
Dayton
Dixie
Goldendale
Kahlotus
Methow Valley
Orondo
Waitsburg
Waterville

Northwest Washington

Lake Quinault

ESA Executive Advisory Committee Members 2020-21

Region Committee Member
Outside Region
At Large
Tom Venable, Methow Valley School District
Inside Region Brent Freeman, Wahkiakum School District
Inside Region Jerry Lewis – White Salmon School District

Program Contacts

ESA Contacts

ESA Regional Assistant Directors
Phone: 360-952-3441

Chelsea Howard

Administrative Assistant

Contact

Phone: 360-952-3441

Email: Chelsea.howard@esd112.org

ESIT Parent Resources

Special Education Resources

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