Jennifer Hall, Director of Special Education and Pupil Services
(518) 736-1708     Jhall@gjsd.k12.ny.us
Susan Hansen, Account Clerk Typist
Maxine Gasser, Typist
Jessica Freis, School Psychologist (Glebe, Pleasant & Warren)
Jaime Tingley, School Psychologist (Knox, JHS)

Child Find
The Greater Johnstown School District has an obligation to evaluate, with parental consent, and offer to students determined to be disabled who reside in the District, a free and appropriate public education. If you believe your child has a disability that requires specialized instruction or special accommodations to benefit and/or access our programs and services, please contact your child’s building principal or the Director of Special Education at 518-736-1708 to discuss the process to initiate a referral to the Committee on Special Education or the §504 Team. If you suspect your child has a disability which adversely affects his/her educational performance and which may require special education and you are enrolling your child in a nonpublic school and are seeking supports for your child while he/she attends school there, you may initiate a referral by writing to the CSE in the school district where the nonpublic school is located.

Listed below are some helpful links to special education:

• What should you do if you feel your child needs special education?
• What is a referral for special education?
• Who else can make a referral for special education?
• What are the steps in the special education process?
• Definition of terms
• Helpful Acronyms
• Definition of roles: Teachers and support staff 
• NYS State Education Department Procedural Safeguards Notice, effective Sept 1, 2007
• Section 504 Procedures for Students with Disabilities
• SED Due Process Rights

The Special Education Department currently serves approximately 325 students. We offer self- contained programs for grades K-12 and a comprehensive resource room program for elementary and secondary students. 

The district has two psychologists on staff, with one serving Johnstown High School and Knox Junior High School and the other serving Warren Street, Glebe Street and Pleasant Avenue elementary schools. Speech services are provided by district employees while physical therapy and occupational therapy are contracted through HFM BOCES. Services are typically provided to students in Johnstown school buildings. Students who can't have their specific needs met within the district are referred to our local BOCES prior to any other facility being considered.

Throughout the school year the Committee on Special Education reserves Thursday to conduct program reviews, meet new referrals and place new students with special needs who have moved into our district into appropriate programs. 

All Individual Education Plans are reviewed from March through May. Parents and students, when appropriate, are encouraged to attend and participate in the development of the IEP.

We hope this page is informative and user friendly. Parents are encouraged to take an active role in their children's education. We appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact us at 736-1708 or e-mail us at Jhall@gjsd.k12.ny.us.

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