To Provide a Free Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment for Pelham Students.
The Pelham School District has inclusive philosophies for all children with disabilities which directly correspond to the belief that all students must have the opportunity to access the general curriculum, and to progress within that curriculum and participate as fully as possible in the wide range of activities provided within our school systems. The preferred setting for all students with disabilities is one in which students can interact and be educated with their non-disabled peers. All possible educational supports are explored as teams strive to serve each child in the least restrictive educational setting. The District believes it is the responsibility of the school to put in place whatever special programming, supports or services are needed for each student to meet with success.
The Pelham School District is required to provide Special Education and related services to students with educational disabilities according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of2004 (IDEA) along with the New Hampshire Standards for the Education of Children with Disabilities (2017). These federal and state mandates require school districts to evaluate students suspected as having educational disabilities, provide students with Individual Educational Programs (IEPs ), and provide students with specialized instruction including reading and math programs, speech and language services, occupational and physical therapy, counseling services, behavioral therapy and intervention, transition services, along with other special services. These services are to be provided in the least restrictive environment (LRE) providing access to non-disabled peers and the general education curriculum. To meet this legal mandate, the Pelham School District has developed a wide array of programming supports to meet the unique needs of children within our public schools. In addition, some student's specific needs are such that they are educated in out-ofdistrict programs due to the severity of their disabilities.