JorgeElorza
Mayor
Chris Maher
Superintendent / / Providence PublicSchool District
Special Education Office
797 Westminster Street
Providence, Rhode Island02903-4045
tel. 401.456.9100
fax 401.453.8699

Memorandum

To:Special Education Managers, Special Education Supervisors, Special Education Intervention Specialists, Special Education Teacher Leaders, School Psychologists, and Special Educators

From:Brian Quigg

cc:Lisa Vargas-Sinapi, Director of Special Education

Date:10/20/2014

Re:Updated Timeline, Procedures, and Responsibilities for ORS Referrals

This memo is being written to clarify the process and responsibilities for completing Office of Rehabilitation Services (ORS) referrals.

Timeline, Procedures, and Responsibilities for ORS Referrals
  1. Eighth Grade Year:
  2. Teacher Leaders and TAC members will present eligibility criteria and ORS overview to 8th grade case managers no later than the end of October of each school year.
  3. Case managers, utilizing the ORS Eligibility/Order of Selection Checklist (attached) during 8th grade annual IEP meetings, will provide information to Teacher Leader of students LIKELY to apply for ORS.
  4. Teacher Leaders will then create complete list of students LIKELY to apply for ORS.
  5. For those potential candidates, case managers will document in the IEP under Transition Services that referral process should be initiated
  6. Lists of students to be considered are collect by Middle School TAC along with ORS Eligibility/Order of Selection Checklist
  7. Ninth Grade Year:
  8. MS TAC representative will organize lists by school and disseminate to high school teams at TAC meeting.
  9. Teams (which must include a psychologist and/or Intervention Specialist) will determine if and when evaluation information will be needed.
  10. If complete evaluation, including an Educational and Psychological evaluation, was completed in eighth grade; further evaluation will not be needed at this time.
  11. If not, Team determines when evaluation will be completed based on ORS Eligibility/Order of Selection Checklist.
  12. Case manager is now responsible for obtaining parent permission for testing.
  13. Case Manager requests parent’s consent using PPSD 2
  14. When PPSD 2 is obtained, case managers must inform and provide copy to Intervention Specialists and Psychologist within 24 hours via e-mail.
  15. Tenth Grade Year:
  16. If ORS referral is being made, testing should have been completed, unless new to district.
  17. Signature required from parent for ORS referral by case manager
  18. Case manager send to ORS, via Teacher Leader or other predetermined school protocol*:
  19. Parent release
  20. IEP
  21. Educational evaluation and Psychological evaluation.

*Please note: Submission of this information is ultimately the case manager’s responsibility.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. The Providence School Department does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, color, disability or veteran status. Vision:The ProvidencePublicSchool District will be a national leader in educating urban youth.Mission: The ProvidencePublicSchool District will prepare all students to succeed in the nation’s colleges and universities, and in their chosen professions.