Public Notices

Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) established funds for which school districts may apply.  IDEA Part B (formerly called Title IV-B Flow-Thru) and Early Childhood Grant Applications are currently being completed by the Maple Heights City Schools for the 2020-2021 school year.  The funds generated through these grant awards must be utilized in the education of children with disabilities.  If you have any comments, questions, or would like additional information regarding these grant applications, you may submit them in writing to Dr. Meghan Shelby, Director of Special Pupil Services, 5740 Lawn Avenue, Maple Heights Ohio 44137.

Child Find

In accordance with the Individual's with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, the Maple Heights City School District is participating in Child Find efforts to locate, evaluate, and identify all children from birth through 21 years of age with disabilities, regardless of their situations, who have significant, individual needs and require intensive interventions through special education and related services.

A disability, in this instance, means such conditions as autism, deaf/blindness, multiple disabilities, deafness/hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, visual impairment/blindness, specific learning disabilities, preschoolers with a disability, emotional disturbance, cognitive disabilities, speech and language impairments, orthopedic and other health impairments or traumatic brain injury.

Although many school-aged disabled children are identified and currently being served by the district, preschool children ages 3-5 with disabilities may be unidentified because parents may not be aware that programs and services are now available through the public school. Community members can help us with this important effort. If you know of a child in our district with a disability that is not presently attending school or receiving services from another agency, please contact the Maple Heights Special Pupil Services Department at (216) 587-6100 ext. 3600.

In addition and in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American’s with Disabilities Act Amendment of 2008, the Maple Heights City School District is participating in Child Find efforts to locate, evaluate and identify all children who have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a major life activity which may occur because of disability, needs or is believed to need special education, related services or aids or accommodations/modifications. If a parent or guardian suspects that a child may be eligible under this federal definition, please contact the Maple Heights Special Pupil Services Department at (216) 587-6100 ext. 3600.

Notifications of Rights Under FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

1.   The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access.  Parents or eligible students should submit to the principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2.   The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate.  Parents or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Director of Pupil Services clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3.   The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.  One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to District officials with legitimate educational interests. A District official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the District Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another District official in performing his or her tasks.

A District official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.  Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another District in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

4.   The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC  20202-5901

Student records shall be available only to students and their parents, eligible students, designated school officials, and designated school personnel, who have a legitimate educational interest in the information, or to other individuals or organizations as permitted by law.  Both parents shall have equal access to student records unless stipulated otherwise by court order or the law. In the case of eligible students, parents may be allowed access to the records without the student's consent, provided the student is considered a dependent under section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code. Only "directory information" regarding a student shall be released to any person or party, other than the student or his/her parent, without the written consent of the parent, or, if the student is an eligible student, without the written consent of the student, except to those persons or parties stipulated by the Board's policy and administrative guidelines and/or those specified in the law.

Each year the District provides public notice to students and their parents of the District's intent to make available, upon request, certain information known as "directory information." The Board designates as student "directory information":

1.    student’s name
2.    student’s photograph
3.    student’s extracurricular participation
4.    student’s achievement awards or honors
5.    student’s weight and height, if a member of an athletic team

For information about parent and student rights to inspect, review and request amendments to educational records, or if parents/students believe their rights under Federal law have been violated, please contact Dr. Meghan Shelby, Director of Special Pupil Services, 5740 Lawn Avenue, Maple Heights, 44137 or at 216-587-6100, ext. 3600.

Section 504 Compliance Officer / ADA Compliance Officer
The Board of Education of Maple Heights does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in its programs and activities.  Meghan Shelby, Director of Special Pupil Services, has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies.  Dr. Shelby can be contacted as follows: Maple Heights, Special Pupil Services, 5740 Lawn Avenue, Maple Heights, 44137, or at 216-587-6100, ext. 3600. 
Records Access and Confidentiality
Under the Federal Education and Privacy Act of 1996, parents or adult students (18 years or older) in the Maple Heights City Schools have the right to inspect and review official student records and related information upon written request to the principal of the building to which the student is assigned. An appointment for the review of the records will be made at a mutually convenient time as soon after the receipt of the written request as possible.  A parent or adult student who believes that information contained in the educational records of the student is inaccurate or misleading or violates the privacy or other rights of the student may request in writing that the records be amended.

A student’s records and related information shall not be released to any individual, group, organization, or agency, except with the written consent of the student’s parents or an adult student himself/herself. The exception to this rule would be in regard to compliance with judicial order (subpoena) or other situations as defined by law and/or Board of Education Policy.

Public's Right to Know (Public Records Policy)
Board of Education Policy GAAB

Parents' Right to Know
Parents have the right to know about the teaching qualifications of their child's classroom teacher in a school receiving Title I funds—the Federal No. Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires that any local school district receiving Title I funds must notify parents that they may ask about the professional qualifications of their child's classroom teacher. 
These qualifications include:
1.  Whether the teacher has met the Ohio teacher licensing criteria for the grade level and subject areas in which the teacher provides your child instruction.
2.  Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or temporary status that waives state licensing requirements.
3.  The undergraduate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate degree or certification (such as National Board Certification) held by the teacher and the field of discipline of certification or degree.
4.  Whether your child is provided services by instructional paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

You may ask for the information by contacting the building principal at the school your child attends.  Be sure to give the following information with your request.  Child's full name, Parent/Guardian full name, Address, City, State, Zip Code, and the Teacher's Name.

Individuals with Disabilities
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandates that every school district in the country develop a system to identify children with disabilities, birth through age 21, who live in their district.  Additionally, the Rules for the Education of Handicapped Children, adopted by the Ohio Board of Education, direct that school districts conduct an annual in-school effort to identify and provide services to children with disabilities.  Any child who you suspect has a disability should be referred to the child’s building principal. The principal will provide additional information about the differentiated referral system.

Americans With Disabilities Act (A.D.A.)
The Maple Heights Board of Education welcomes and encourages any and all comments from individuals interested in the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A). The A.D.A. contains Title I-Employment, Title II-Public Services, and Title III-Public Accommodations. Please contact Dr. Meghan Shelby, Director of Special Pupil Services, 5740 Lawn Avenue, Maple Heights, 44137, or at 216-587-6100, ext. 3600.

Equal Educational Opportunities
All students of the District have equal educational opportunities.  Students have the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, economic status, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, or military status in all decisions affecting admissions; membership in school-sponsored organizations, clubs or activities; access to facilities; distribution of funds; academic evaluations or any other aspects of school-sponsored activities.  Any limitations with regard to participation in a school-sponsored activity are based on criteria reasonably related to that specific activity.

Provision of Aids & Services to Hearing Impaired individuals
The Maple Heights City Schools shall provide reasonable aids or services to allow individuals with hearing impairments to attend, participate in, and/or benefit from school-sponsored programs and activities.  Any individual needing such aid or service shall notify Dr. Meghan Shelby, Special Pupil Services Director, of such need, in writing, at 5740 Lawn Avenue, Maple Heights 44137, at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the program/activity at which the aid/service is needed.  The request should include the type of aid/service needed and the reason for needing the aid/service.

Input Sought on Federal Funds
The Maple Heights City School District receives the notification of their entitlement of federal funds allocated in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Public Law 94-142.  The utilization of these funds is designated to provide services and programs for disabled students.  Persons who wish to comment on how to utilize these designated funds are welcome and encouraged to contact our Office of Curriculum & Instruction at 5740 Lawn Avenue or by phone at 216.587.6100, ext. 3400.

Data Release Notice – Doe Case 

Click HERE for further information.

The Maple Heights City School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, economic status, disability, or military status in its dealings with employees, students, the general public, individuals with whom it does business, applicants for employment, or in its educational programs and activities; and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.