Welcome to Jasper Middle School’s Special Education web site.  Below are a few sites that cover a variety of topics of interest to parents.  Our students are served in a variety of settings, depending on what the IEP team determines is the least restrictive environment, by highly qualified teachers.   Please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns.

Sonja Gordy, lead special education teacher, JMS  (706) 253-1760, Ext. 201

Dr. Lonnie Dikowsi, special education director (706) 253-1711

Michele Parks, special education coordinator (706) 253-1711

Referral Procedures

If a student is experiencing academic, behavioral, or social difficulty, he or she is referred to the Student Support Team (SST). This team may be comprised of teachers, counselors, parents, administrators, special educators, speech pathologists, and psychologists. School staff members or parents may make a referral to the SST. The SST committee discusses the student's difficulties and brainstorms in order to come up with possible strategies or modifications that may help the child perform in the regular classroom. The SST monitors the child's progress and reviews the case periodically to change strategies if necessary. A child is referred for a full psycho-educational assessment only if these strategies prove ineffective in correcting the difficulties and screening indicates that further testing is in order; written parental consent is obtained prior to any assessment. Parents are always welcome and encouraged to attend SST meetings regarding their child. If you have any questions, please ask your school administrator.

Resources 

ADHD resources:  http://www.ldonline.org/adhdbasics

Behavior and mental health:  http://www.nasponline.org/families/index.aspx

                                           http://www.disciplinehelp.com/

Fetal alcohol disorders: http://www.acbr.com/fas/

Learning disabilities:  http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs7txt.htm

    http://www.ldonline.org/ldbasics

School psychology resources:  http://www.schoolpsychology.net/

Special education rules:  http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_exceptional.aspx?PageReq=CIEXCAdoptedRules

IDEA regulations:  http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/DMGetDocument.aspx/IDEA2004reg.pdf?p=6CC6799F8C1371F623087D24355A912B32F8CB604BDB6210B6832F0E2C2E2863&Type=D

State programs and categories:  http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_exceptional.aspx?PageReq=CIEXCPrograms

Frequently asked questions:  http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/ci_exceptional.aspx?PageReq=CIEXCFAQ