Prescott Unified School District empowers each student for college, career and life success.  The Office for Exceptional Student Services is committed to ensuring that each child leaves school each day feeling successful.  We do this by providing individualized supports, a continuum of service delivery options, facilitating academic and social development and maintaining dignity and respect for each student.

A collaborative effort is required between parents, support staff, and regular educators in order to facilitate the independence and success of each student.

Prescott’s Office for Exceptional Student Services offers a continuum of services to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities.  We promote inclusion by providing these services in the least restrictive environment (LRE) which means to the greatest extent possible, appropriate services are provided in the general education environment. 

Prescott Unified School District utilizes a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) model to identify the strengths and needs of struggling learners.  The MTSS model focuses on  collaboration between the core members of the student’s team including parents.  This student-focused process analyzes data relative to identified issues of concern, sets individual goals, brainstorms options for intervention, develops an action plan and gathers data to determine the effectiveness of the interventions provided. 

The Office for Exceptional Student Services consists of many staff members offering a variety of services to students. 

The following are staff that provide services for students in the Prescott Unified School District.

1. Special Education Teachers
2. School Psychologists
3. Speech and Language Pathologists
4. Occupational Therapists
5. Physical Therapists
6. Behavior Therapists
7. Adaptive Physical Education
8. Social Emotional Counselors

Child Find
All students from birth through age 21 who are suspected of having a disability may be referred for a special education evaluation. School personnel, parents or guardians, physicians, community agencies, or other appropriate individuals may initiate a referral for special education evaluation. Referral of students for possible special education services is part of the Districts’ overall regular education referral and screening system.

Requesting an Evaluation
If a parent makes a written request for an initial evaluation for special education services to an administrative employee of the school district, the district must respond no later than 15 school days after receiving the request. At that time, the district must give the parent a prior written notice of whether it agrees to or refuses to evaluate the student, along with a copy of the Summary of "Child Find" Procedures for Parents.  If the school district agrees to evaluate the student, it must also give the parent prior written notice for a special education evaluation. School personnel, parents or guardians, physicians, community agencies, or other appropriate individuals may initiate a referral for special education evaluation. Referral of students for possible special education services is part of the District's overall regular education referral and screening system.

Special Education Process
A child’s eligibility for special education services is based on whether or not a qualified team of professionals determines the presence of a disability, the need for specially designed instruction and/or related services, and an adverse affect on the child’s education as part of a Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (i.e., MET). An evaluation team consists of parents/guardians, general education teacher(s), a special education teacher, district representative, and school psychologist. Evaluation teams may also include support staff, such as a speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or adaptive physical education teacher.

An Individualized Education Plan (i.e., IEP) will be developed by a team of trained professionals that outlines the child’s special education services in the event that a child is identified with a disability.

If your child is enrolled at a Prescott USD #1 campus and you wish to request a special education evaluation, please provide the written request to the campus principal. If your child does not attend school but lives within the Prescott USD #1 boundaries or attends a Private School located within the Prescott USD #1 boundaries, please contact the Office of Exceptional Student Services at (928) 717-3236. The Office of Exceptional Student Services is located at 926 S. Hinman Street, Prescott, AZ 86305.