The Office of Special Services provides a variety of educational services to the students in Hatboro Horsham School District. These services are designed to meet the unique educational needs of our student population. Services include, but are not limited to, school counseling, school psychological services, nursing, resources for homeless students, school based medical ACCESS programming, and gifted education. Special Services staff members work collaboratively with the Office of Special Education to ensure a continuum of services for all students.

Surrogate Parents: The School District is responsible for ensuring the rights of a child when no parent can be identified, the parent has been unable to be located following reasonable attempts to do so, the child is a ward of the state, or a child has been identified as an unaccompanied youth through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. If you are interested in volunteering your time as a surrogate parent, please contact the Director of Special Education/Special Services. Interested parties must be at least 18 years of age.

Important Change in Definition of “Compulsory School Age”

Effective September 26, 2019, all children from the age of six (6) through the age of eighteen (18) must comply with compulsory school attendance requirements.  To meet these requirements, parents must ensure that their child between the ages of 6 and 18 is attending or participating in one of the following: a public elementary, middle, or high school; a public charter or cyber-charter school; a private licensed academic or private religious school; home tutoring by a certified teacher; or an approved program of home schooling.  Children may be excused from compulsory attendance for documented medical or other compelling reasons as outlined in District attendance policy and procedures.

IMPORTANT CHANGE TO THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ensures that all children with disabilities ages 3 years through 21 years residing in Pennsylvania have the right to a FAPE, including children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school. The commonwealth shall make FAPE available to a child with a disability eligible under IDEA until the student turns 22. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a child eligible under IDEA who attains the age of twenty-one (21) years may remain enrolled in their resident district free of charge until their 22nd birthday. The following links will provide more information about this change:

August 30, 2023 Penn Link 

IDEAB FAQ (pa.gov)

Policy Revision

Homeless Education Information and Support