Livingston Parish Public Schools assures that all children, 3 through 21, residing within the jurisdiction of the school system who have a disability and are in need of special education, related, and/or special services are identified, located and evaluated. LPPS through the Child Search Coordinator will document that annual and ongoing activities are conducted to identify and locate children suspected of being exceptional and needing special education services. 

In accordance with the State Child Search Program, annual and ongoing activities are conducted to identify and locate children (ages 3 through 21) suspected of being exceptional and needing special education and/or related services.  The Livingston Parish child search designee is Janice Padgett.   She may be contacted at 225-667-2080.

For more information on services offered see the links below:
Alternative Programs - Assistive Technology  - Audiology Department - Gifted and Talented
 Inclusion - RTI-Response to Intervention - Speech Therapy - Technology -  Vision and Hearing Impaired

Homebound/Temporary Educational Services (TES) are instructional services provided to a student  in an alternative setting (usually the home) for a specified length of time.  The student is enrolled in general education and as a result of illness, accident or emotional crisis cannot attend school for a specified number of days (generally, 3 weeks). 

Homebound instruction is not intended to take the place of the educational program obtained through regular school attendance.  The intent is to maintain current skill levels until the student can return to school.

Special education students may also receive TES via their IEPs.

How to apply for Homebound services

1. Obtain an application for homebound services from your student's school.
2. A parent/guardian completes the top portion of the application.
3. The recommending physician completes the bottom portion of the form and mails it to the Special Education Department.        

Assistive Technology was first defined in the Technology-Related Assistance of Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 . Since that time the responsibility to provide assistive technology devices and services (when needed) has been mandated by the IDEA revisions of 1990 and 1997, the current revision of the Rehabilitation Act of 1992 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Livingston Parish School System has worked diligently to provide these mandated services. The parish has established an assistive technology team with a strong desire by the team members and administration to firmly establish a working system for providing assistive technology services to Livingston Parish students. This team has made significant progress in providing needed technology services.

The Audiology Department has proudly served the students of Livingston Parish since 2007 by providing educationally related diagnostic Hearing Evaluations, Consultations, and Support for students with hearing related needs.

Parents with concerns regarding their child’s hearing should initially notify the child’s teacher or Child Search (if the child is not yet enrolled in school). Services are provided by our audiologist, Heidi McGovern, MA/CCC-A/SLP, who can be contacted at:

Pine Ridge School
30228 Travis Street 
Walker, LA   70785
Phone:  225-664-4823     
Fax: 225-667-2984
Heidi.mcgovern@lpsb.org    

Useful websites/links for Parents:

www.audiology.org
2007 Position Statement High Risk Factors
Factoids
Audio Case History Info Sheet
Organizations and Resources
Down’s Audiogram
Permissible Noise Levels
Authorization for Release of Medical Info
 

Livingston Parish Public Schools offers services for gifted and talented students in grades K-12.  Students are screened by the School Building Level Committee and recommended for evaluation if warranted.  Upon completing the evaluation, a committee will then develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the identified eligible student.

Gifted students are offered enrichment or accelerated academic services.  Higher level and critical thinking permeates this curriculum.  The skills are taught in far less time than the regular classroom, so the student can advance on to more challenging work.

The Talented Program provides enrichment for students to further their artistic abilities in three different areas: Theater, Visual Arts, and Music.  Students may qualify for one or more of the areas, and will receive instruction, which will enhance their educational program through concentrated exposure to the arts.

Inclusion continues to grow in Livingston Parish. Most of the elementary schools have inclusion settings. Additionally many of our junior high/middle and high schools are also providing inclusive education.

Some of these schools are full inclusion schools and some are beginning this school year with small steps toward inclusive education.

The team inclusion approach enables exceptional students to remain in the general education classroom via the IEP process. The students receive the expertise of the content teacher AND the expertise of the special education teacher or trained paraprofessional.  The teachers work collaboratively to provide all accommodations, and modifications as appropriate for each student. Inclusion improves all students' chances of succeeding in the general curriculum.