Special School District
Hancock Place and Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD) work cohesively to ensure the best possible education for all students.
In collaboration with the Hancock Place School District, SSD provides technical education and a wide variety of individualized educational and support services, designed to ensure the student’s successful contribution to our community.
Although SSD oversees the legalities of IEPs, compliance, and service delivery, these students receive instruction and interventions from both SSD teachers and Hancock teachers. Please contact Cathy McGinty, our SSD Area Coordinator, regarding questions specific to special education.
About Response to Intervention (RtI)
RtI is a structure to enhance instructional effectiveness through the use of evidence-based practice, systematic data collection and data based decision making. The framework is a tiered model of providing intervention services to students that is systematic and data-driven. The level or intensity of the intervention is based upon the specific academic or behavioral needs of the student. Student progress is monitored during all points in the system in order to provide information on the response of the student to the intervention implemented.
Early Childhood Special Education
SSD began its Early Childhood Special Education program more than 30 years ago to serve students with severe multiple disabilities. In 1991, the district began providing services to preschool students with low to moderate disabilities. Today, more than 1,200 children ages 3 to 5 years receive special education services through the SSD Early Childhood program.
Special School Distrtict provides early childhood special education for the Hancock Place School District. Preschool-aged children who might need special education services are referred to SSD by the Hancock Place School District, either through the Parents as Teachers program or First Steps, a federal early-intervention program for children from birth to age 3 years. In addition, parents can make a referral. After a child is referred to SSD, the child is evaluated by SSD diagnostic staff. If it is determined that the child qualifies for special education services, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is written.
Accessibility Notice
All programs offered in the Hancock Place School District are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
The following Hancock facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities:
- Hancock Place Early Childhood Center
- Hancock Place Elementary School
- Hancock Place Middle School
- Hancock Place High School
- Hancock Place Central Office