Washington Online School Resources

Special Programs

Insight School of Washington offers a host of services to help your student get the support they need to thrive in school and beyond. Below is a list of specific services, providers, and contact information.

Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Coordinator / Special Programs Manager

Jenna Buswell
jbuswell@k12insightwa.org
jbuswell@k12insightwa.org
425.533.2700 ext 7389
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

Child Find Coordinator

Sarah Stecher
sstecher@k12insightwa.org
425.533.2700 ext 7431
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

504 Coordinator

Misty Holcomb
miholcomb@k12insightwa.org
425.533.2726
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

English Learner Coordinator (ELL)

Darice Bales
dbales@k12insightwa.org
425.372.7141
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

Foster / Homeless / Migrant Liaison

Smita Corpron
scorpron@k12insightwa.org
425.533.2681
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

Special Education Coordinator

Natasha Gingrich
ngingrich@k12insightwa.org
425.533.2736
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

Special Education Records Specialist

Victoria Sea
vsea@k12insightwa.org
425.533.2708
Fax: 425-696-1571
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

Title IX Coordinator

Diana Figula
dfigula@k12insightwa.org
425.533.2700 ext 2024
2601 SE 35th St, Suite 100, Tacoma, WA 98409

Request for Parent/Guardian Interpreter Services

Professional interpreter services, including ASL, may be requested at any time for parents/guardians of currently enrolled students by contacting ISWA Director of Academics & EL Coordinator Darice Bales at dbales@k12insightwa.org

Request for Parent/Guardian Disability Accommodations

If any parent/guardian has a disability or other limitation that would impact their ability to participate fully in their student’s educational process, ISWA would be happy to discuss accommodations that may be available in order to maximize the parent/guardian’s participation by contacting ISWA Special Education Coordinator Natasha Gingrich at ngingrich@k12insightwa.org

Procedural Safeguards

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirement that all educational agencies provide parents of students with disabilities notice containing a full explanation of the procedural safeguards available under the IDEA and U.S. Department of Education regulations.  Please click HERE to review the Procedural Safeguards Notice in your preferred language on the OSPI website.

Annual Public Notice of Special Services & Programs

In accordance with federal and state regulations, ISWA will provide an annual public notice to families informing them of ISWA’s child find responsibilities, procedures involved in the identification of educational disabilities, and determination of students’ service and support needs. Families are encouraged to review the following information that describes these regulations.  Information regarding ISWA’s internal practices to comply with these will be available in ISWA’s Special Programs Manuals and Handbooks.

Child Find

Stride and ISWA make every effort to identify students needing additional support including English Language Development during the enrollment process.  Finding the children who need special education and related services is a basic function of the special education system. Without an effective child find process in place, the structure of the entire system is compromised. This process is called Child Find.  Child Find questions are completed by the parent within the online enrollment portal.  During the enrollment process, parents/guardians are asked if their student currently has or previously had a 504 or an IEP, and/or if the student received English Language support.  For any student who the parent provides a positive response, ISWA staff explore the student’s academic history to determine if the student should be referred to the ELD Coordinator, the 504 Coordinator, and/or the Special Programs Manager.   Parents, Learning Coaches, and Staff may directly refer a student by contacting the student’s Professional School Counselor.   

Pursuant to WAC 392-172A-0240, all school districts in Washington State must conduct child find activities calculated to reach all students with a suspected disability for the purpose of locating, evaluating, and identifying students who are in need of special education and related services. 

For questions about Special Education processes and referrals, please contact ISWA’s Special Education Coordinator at ngingrich@k12insightwa.org

Consent

ISWA cannot proceed with an evaluation, or with the initial provision of special education and related services, without the written consent of a student’s parents/legal guardians.  For additional information related to consent, please refer to the Procedural Safeguards notice which can be found on the OSPI website at: https://ospi.k12.wa.us/student-success/special-education/family-engagement-and-guidance/parent-and-student-rights-procedural-safeguards

Special Education (IEP) or Service Agreements (504 Plans)

Once the evaluation process is completed, a team of qualified school personnel, parents/guardians, and other relevant service providers hold an evaluation determination meeting to come to agreement on whether the student meets eligibility for one of the disability categories under IDEA.

OSPI has developed a “10-Step Guide to the Special Education Process.”  This information is helpful for parents seeking understanding of the evaluation and IEP process.  https://ospi.k12.wa.us/student-success/special-education/family-engagement-and-guidance/how-special-education-works

WAC 392-172A-01035 defines the eligibility criteria associated with disability categories under IDEA.  Click HERE to view the definitions.

If the student is eligible and requires specially designed instruction, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be coordinated; during which the IEP team will review and finalize the proposed details of an appropriate educational program to meet the student’s documented needs.

For students confirmed to present with special education needs, once the IEP team agrees on the IEP and the student’s educational placement, a consent for IEP services will be sent to the parent/guardian for signature. This must be signed and returned to ISWA.  ISWA can only proceed with implementing the student’s IEP (or 504 Plan) upon receipt of the consent for IEP services.  Some students are found to present with one or more disability, but do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined under IDEA (special education); however, their disability may still require ISWA to develop a 504 Plan to outline the special provisions a student may require for adaptations and/or accommodations in school-based instruction, facilities, and/or activities.

Students may be eligible to certain accommodations or services if they have a mental or physical disability that substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program and otherwise qualify under the applicable laws.  ISWA will ensure that qualified students with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in the school program and activities to the maximum extent appropriate for each individual student. In compliance with applicable state and federal laws, ISWA will provide students with disabilities the necessary educational services and supports they require to access and benefit from their educational program.   This is to be done without discrimination or out-of-pocket cost to the student or family for the essential supplementary aids, services, or accommodations determined to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and co-curricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s abilities and to the extent required by the laws. Click HERE for more information related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Parents, guardians, and adult students have the right to revoke consent for services after initial placement.  Please note that a revocation of consent removes the student from ALL special services and supports outlined on the IEP or 504 Plan. The parent, guardian or adult student must sign a revocation form, and ISWA will provide a Prior Written Notice identifying the date ISWA will stop providing services. Click HERE to review WAC 392-172A-01040.

Special Education Grievances or Disputes

ISWA recognizes that despite best intentions of all parties, disagreements or miscommunications may arise between the school-based team and ISWA families and/or students.  Should this situation occur, the ISWA special education case manager will initiate an IEP team discussion where the specific details contributing to any educational concern are fully discussed and addressed as the entire team determines what they would consider to be most appropriate for the student.  Collaboration is a primary focus for this type of meeting, and the ISWA Special Education Team seeks to establish and maintain the confidence of its families to always serve its students in order to maximize their success.

Special Education Dispute Resolution Options

If you believe ISWA has failed to provide a service identified on your student’s IEP, believe that ISWA denied your student FAPE, or believe ISWA has not met any other federal or state requirements related to special education, then you may consider using more formal dispute resolution options in order to solve your disagreement.

  • Mediation: Mediation is a voluntary process for parents and districts to meet to discuss their concerns with the help of a trained, neutral mediator.  Click HERE for more information.
  • Filing a Special Education Citizen Complaint: A community complaint is a written statement to OSPI, alleging that a federal state or special education rule or law has been violated.  Click HERE for more information.
  • Requesting a Due Process Hearing: A due process hearing is a formal, legal proceeding conducted by an administrative law judge.  Click HERE for more information.

You may also direct questions to OSPI’s Special Education Parent Liaison. Click HERE for more information.

About the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1986 is a federal law that provides money for homeless shelter programs. “Homeless” children are also entitled to the protections of the McKinney-Vento Act.

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children as “individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” The act provides examples of children who would fall under this definition:

  1. Children and youth sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason.
  2. Children and youth living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to lack of alternative accommodations.
  3. Children and youth abandoned in hospitals.
  4. Children and youth whose primary nighttime residence is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation (e.g. park benches)
  5. Children and youth living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train stations.
  6. Migratory children and youth living in any of the above situations.

Children and youth who qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act have the right to:

  • Receive a free, appropriate public education.
  • Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
  • Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
  • Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference.
    • If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
  • Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
  • Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

If you believe your children may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available.

ISWA Student Resource Coordinator

Smita Corpron
Email: scorpron@k12insightwa.org
Phone: 425.533.2681

Quillayute Valley District Liaison

Kyle Weakley
Email: kyle.weakley@qvschools.org
Phone: 360.374.6262