Ballard County Schools

For students eligible for Special Education, records can be destroyed at the parent’s request when no longer needed. Otherwise, records may be destroyed three (3) years after they are no longer needed. The district may retain indefinitely basic information such as the student’s name, address, phone number, grades, attendance, classes, and year completed for other purposes like Social Security benefits.

Children eligible for Special Education include those with disabilities such as autism, deaf-blindness, developmental delay, emotional-behavior disability, hearing impairment, mental disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment who need Special Education services.

Children eligible for 504 services include those with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, affecting their access to the school environment or activities.

State-Funded Preschool eligibility includes three- and four-year-old children with disabilities or four-year-olds at risk (up to 160% federal poverty level). Children in special education require an Individual Education Plan (IEP) instead of a 504 plan for these services.

The district has an ongoing "Child Find" system to locate, identify, and evaluate any child, ages 3–21, within its boundaries who may need Special Education or 504 services, including children not in school, in public/private/home schools, highly mobile children, and those advancing grades.

The "Child Find" system includes children with disabilities attending private or home schools who may need Special Education services.

The district ensures that any child qualifying for Special Education or 504 services receives appropriate services at no cost to parents, regardless of severity.

Parents, relatives, agency employees, and citizens are encouraged to help the district identify children who may need services, including providing the child’s name, age/DOB, parent contact info, possible disability, and other relevant details.

Information is collected through letters and phone calls and is used to contact parents to determine if the child needs evaluation or referral.