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Learning Support

The Department of Learning Support is dedicated to providing support to children, parents, and the faculty of the Rockdale County Public Schools. The department is based at the Central Office facility located at 960 Pine Street NE, Conyers, GA, 770-860-4231.

Learning Support Services (LSS) incorporates a variety of specialists that includes coaches, special educators, speech and language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, and vision/hearing teachers. LSS is also responsible for monitoring and implementing special education services and programs throughout the school district. The LSS staff regularly offers training and workshops to faculty to ensure the highest quality of training and valuable resources.





Photo of Dr. Marva Haward


Dr. Marva Howard
Director
Phone: 770-860-4231
Email: [email protected]






Picture of Anja Peay
Anja Peay
Secretary
Phone: 770-860-4231
Email: [email protected]





RCPS SB-10 Application, Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (Deadline June 12, 4PM)

>>CLICK HERE for RCPS SB-10 Application



April 24, 2023

Rockdale County Public Schools
Office of Learning Support
960 Pine Street
Conyers, Georgia 30012
770-860-4231

RE: Georgia Special Needs Scholarship

Dear Parents:

As the parent of a student who receives special education in the Rockdale County Public School System, we wanted to let you know about your options to exercise public and private school choice. This information was recently posted on our system website at https://www.rockdaleschools.org/learningsupport . From the website click on the link "RCPS SB-10 Application" to complete and submit an application. The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, parents of students who receive special education, may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia. If the student meets the eligibility criteria outlined on the Georgia Depart of Education website http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and –Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx the following options are available.

Public School Choice Options

A parent may request a transfer to another public school within their school system as long as there is capacity at the school and a program available which is aligned with the student’s IEP. Capacity is based on established health and safety provisions and class-size by grade and subject. If this option is chosen and approved, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from the school. Scholarship applications should be submitted to the Director of Learning Support no later than Monday, June 12, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Parents will receive notification, by letter, of the district’s decision regarding your request for the 2023-24 school year by Friday, July 7, 2023.

The parent may request a transfer to a school in another school system if there is capacity at the school and a program available which is aligned with the student’s IEP. A school system considering a request for a transfer to its school system from another school system can deny a request, it can charge a parent/guardian for the costs of educating a student during the first school year of the transfer. If this option is chosen and approved by the system, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from the school in that system.

The parent may also request a transfer to one of the state schools for the deaf and/or blind operated by the State Board of Education. Acceptance into a state school will depend on whether that setting is appropriate for the student’s needs. If the parent chooses this option, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from the state school. Please contact the Georgia Department of Education for more information about transferring to a state school.

Private School Choice Option

If you are interested in transferring your child to a private school in Georgia, you may visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx. There is no formal application process for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. Parent/guardian will determine a student’s potential scholarship award using the scholarship calculator on the web page. The calculator for the 2023-2024 school year will be available on the Georgia Department of Education website.

You may also contact the Director of Learning Support, Marva Howard at 770-860-4231 if you have questions.

Sincerely,
Marva Howard
Director of Learning Support

(PDF icon  CLICK HERE for printable PDF)


Solicitud RCPS SB-10, Programa de necesidades especiales de Georgia (Fecha límite: 12 de junio, 4PM)

>>HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para la solicitud RCPS SB-10



Abril 24, 2023

Rockdale County Public Schools
Office of Learning Support
960 Pine Street
Conyers, GA 30012
770-860-4231

RE: Programa de necesidades especiales de Georgia

Queridos padres:
Como padre de un estudiante que recibe educación especial en el Sistema de Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Rockdale, queríamos informarle sobre sus opciones para ejercer la elección de la escuela pública y privada. Esta información fue publicada recientemente en nuestro sitio web del sistema https://www.rockdaleschools.org/learningsupport debajo de Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, los padres de estudiantes que reciben educación especial pueden optar por transferir a su hijo/a a otra escuela pública o escuela privada en Georgia. Si el estudiante cumple con los criterios de elegibilidad descritos en el sitio web del departamento de educacion de Georgia: http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-
Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Schoolarship-Program.aspx
las siguientes opciones están disponibles.

Opciones de eleccion de escuela publica

Los padres pueden solicitar una transferencia a otra escuela pública dentro de su sistema escolar, siempre y cuando haya capacidad en la escuela y un programa disponible que esté alineado con el IEP del estudiante. La capacidad se basa en las disposiciones establecidas en materia de salud y seguridad y el tamaño de la clase por grado y sujeto. Si esta opción es elegida y aprobada, el padre será responsable del transporte hacia y desde la escuela. Las solicitudes de becas deben presentarse al director de apoyo al aprendizaje a más tardar el lunes 12 de junio de 2023 a las 4:00 p.m. Los padres recibirán la notificación, por carta, de la decisión del distrito con respecto a su solicitud para el año escolar 2023-24 antes del viernes 7 de julio de 2023.

Los padres pueden solicitar una transferencia a una escuela en otro sistema escolar si hay capacidad en la escuela y un programa disponible que está alineado con el IEP del estudiante. Un sistema escolar que está considerando una solicitud de transferencia a su sistema escolar de otro sistema escolar puede negar una solicitud, puede cobrar a un padre/tutor por los costos de educar a un estudiante durante el primer año escolar de la transferencia. Si esta opción es elegida y aprobada por el sistema, el padre será responsable del transporte hacia y desde la escuela en ese sistema.

Los padres también pueden solicitar una transferencia a una de las escuelas estatales para sordos y/o ciegos operados por la Junta Estatal de Educación. La aceptación en una escuela estatal dependerá de si ese ajuste es apropiado para las necesidades del estudiante. Si los padres eligen esta opción, será responsable del transporte hacia y desde la escuela estatal. Comuníquese con el Departamento de Educación de Georgia para obtener más información sobre la transferencia a una escuela estatal.

Opción de elección de escuela privada

Si está interesado en transferir a su hijo a una escuela privada en Georgia, puede visitar el sitio web del Departamento de Educación de Georgia en http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx. No hay un proceso formal de solicitud para el Programa de Becas para Necesidades Especiales de Georgia. Los padres/tutores determinarán el premio potencial de becas de un estudiante usando la calculadora de becas en la página web. La calculadora para el año escolar 2023-2024 estará disponible en el sitio web del Departamento de Educación de Georgia.

También puede comunicarse con el Director de Soporte de Aprendizaje, Marva Howard al 770-860-4231 si tiene preguntas.

Sinceramente,
Marva Howard
Director de Soporte de Aprendizaje

(PDF icon CLIC AQUÍ para PDF imprimible)





Directory

Name
Title Phone
Dr. Marva Howard Director 770-860-4231
Kachelle White
Secondary Coordinator 770-860-4238
Jessica Walls Elementary Coordinator
770-860-4212
Tara Geiser Elementary Coordinator /Related Services 770-761-1454
Bridgett Copeland
Secondary Coordinator
770-860-4229
Deana Cain State Reporting and Compliance / Secondary  770-860-4244 
Meshalette Atkins State Reporting and Compliance / Elementary 770-761-1444 
Sirena Graves
Parent Mentor
770-918-6187
Josh Kammerer Behavior Specialist
770-918-6186
Steve Johnson
Behavior Specialist
770-860-4231
Anja Peay Secretary / Special Ed Records
770-860-4231
Jackeline Perez Learning Support Bookkeeper
770-860-4245
Dr. Pankaj Gaur Vision Specialist        770-918-2519    



2022-2023 RCPS Office of Learning Support
Lead Teachers for Compliance Contact List:


Julie Benkoski, [email protected]
Barksdale Elementary 770-483-9514 (on-campus extension 13152)
Pine Street Elementary 770-483-8713   

Robin Vaughn-Dixon, [email protected]    
C.J. Hicks Elementary 770-483-4410 (on-campus extension 14184)

Nashetta Lowe, [email protected]    
Flat Shoals Elementary 770-483-5136 (on-campus extension 15203)

Kasha King, [email protected]s
Hightower Elementary 770-388-0751
Honey Creek Elementary 770-483-5706

Dana Jarrells, [email protected]    
Lorraine Elementary 770-483-0657 (on-campus extension 35198)
J.H. House Elementary 770-483-9504

Santressa Idlette,
 [email protected]
Peeks Chapel Elementary 770-761-1842 (on-campus extension 19158)

Jacqueline Mercer, [email protected]
Shoal Creek Elementary 770-929-1430
Sims Elementary 770-922-0666



Stacey Wilson-James, [email protected]
Memorial Middle School 770-922-0139

Anisha Mendez, [email protected]    
Conyers Middle 770-483-3371 (on-campus extension 23233)

Sabrina McCray, [email protected]
General Ray Davis Middle 770-388-5675 (on-campus extension 24221)

Shani Simmons, [email protected]
Edwards Middle 770-483-3255 (on-campus extension 25199)



Folashade Belmon, [email protected]
Heritage High School 770-483-5428

Ann Johnson, [email protected]
Rockdale County High 770-483-8754 (on-campus extension 28302)

Keisha Banks, [email protected]
Salem High School 770-929-0176

Ives Cineas, [email protected]
Rockdale Career Academy 770-388-5677    



Jamie Wilson, [email protected]
READY Program 770-483-4410 (on-campus extension 14215)




Requests for Special Education Records:

Click here for the form: RECORDS REQUEST

Please email or fax your completed request form to
Anja Peay: [email protected]
 / 678-658-3152 Fax




Learning Support Links

Georgia Department of Education - Education Support
Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship Information


More Information


 


Child Find Notice

(Identification of Services for Individuals with Disabilities)
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Rockdale County Public Schools implements a comprehensive Child Find system to assure that all children who are in need of early intervention or special education services are located, identified, and referred.  The Child Find network assists in identifying and providing appropriate educational help to students with disabilities.  If you suspect your child, ages 3-21, may be a child with a disability, you are encouraged to contact the Learning Support Services office of Rockdale County Public Schools at 770-860-4231.  Personnel can support you in exploring what services may be available.

Child Find extends to children who are parentally placed in private or home schools.  Rockdale County Public Schools personnel are available to meet with the representative from private and home schools to inform them of the district’s Child Find procedures and services that may be available under the proportionate share of federal special education funds.  If your child is enrolled in a private school or home school and has been identified as a child with a disability or you suspect your child has a disability, you may contact Dr. Marva Howard, Director of Learning Support at 770-860-4231 for more information.