Student Support Services

Welcome to the Burlington School District Student Support Services!

Our goal is to help every child succeed. Student Support Services focuses on academic outcomes, aspirations for our students, parent/community engagement, and regulatory compliance. We provide our students with stability and continuity, new opportunities for inclusion, and higher-quality programs that are aligned with our district goals of equity for all students. In collaboration with all Burlington District schools, PreK – 12, we strive to provide equitable opportunities to engage in high-quality instruction in the least restrictive environment, empowering each student to grow according to their ability.

Special Education

Federal law guarantees every student the right to a free and appropriate public education regardless of disability. Special Education rules and regulations guarantee the right to an education in the “least restrictive environment.” Burlington School District values inclusion and equity for all students.

To help every child succeed, Student Support Services focuses on academic outcomes, aspirations for our students, and regulatory compliance. We are providing our students with more stability and continuity, new opportunities for inclusion, and high-quality programs that are aligned with district efforts to help all our students reach a high standard.

If you believe that your child is having difficulty making progress in a regular classroom due to a disability, you have the right to an evaluation of your child to find out if your student has a disability and is eligible for special education services. Ask Laura Nugent, Director of Student Support Services, (802) 864-4567/ lnugent@bsdvt.org or your student’s teacher or principal for this evaluation.

Extended School Year Exploration at the airport 2018

What is Special Education?

Special education is the practice of educating students in a way that provides accommodations that address their individual differences, disabilities, and special needs. This process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures and may require adapted equipment and materials, and accessible settings. These interventions are designed to help individuals with special needs achieve a higher level of personal self-sufficiency and success in school and in their community which may not be available if the student were only given access to typical classroom education. Special Education is separate from a 504 plan, as a 504 plan supports students with disabilities with accommodations and services to access the general education curriculum. Special Education provides students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that includes specialized services, modifications, and accommodations. The goal of the IEP is to allow students with disabilities to learn in the way that best meets their individual needs and in the least restrictive educational environment.

Child Find Notice
Burlington School District is required by federal law to locate, identify and
evaluate all children with disabilities. The process of locating, identifying, and
evaluating children with disabilities is known as child find.
Burlington School District schools conduct Kindergarten screening each
spring, but parents may call to make an appointment to discuss their concerns at any time. Burlington School District has the responsibility to identify and
provide services to any child with special needs who may require special education and related services in order to access and benefit from public education.
If you have or know of any Burlington resident with a disability under
the age of 21 or a child who attends a private school located in Burlington VT, we would like to hear from you. Special education services may be available to their children.
Please contact the Director of Student Support Services, Laura Nugent at lnugent@bsdvt.org or (802) 864-4567.

Glossary of Key Special Education Terms

Student Support Services Employee and Needs Directory

Student Support Services Main Number | Tel: 802-864-8456

Director of Student Support Services: Special Education/504 Administrator – Laura Nugent, lnugent@bsdvt.org. Contact for special education, 504, nursing, substance abuse, Discrete Trial Instruction, and other support issues PreK – 12.
Special Education Compliance Coordinators: Erika Saunders, esaunder@bsdvt.org and Sarah Gould, sgould@bsdvt.org. Contact for concerns related to IEP compliance.
Special Education Out of District Liaison: Case Manager for Independent Schools – Sally Martin, smartin@bsdvt.org. Contact for questions related to students in independent school placements due to special education team determinations.
Administrative Assistant/Homelessness Liaison: Parent and staff contact – Wilhelmenia Kirk, wkirk@bsdvt.org. Administrative Assistant to Dir. Student Support Services and contact for questions related to Homelessness in Burlington School District.
Administrative Assistant/Special Education Student Transportation: Parent and staff contact– Laurie Burrington, lburring@bsdvt.org. Administrative Assistant to Dir. Student Support Services and contact for questions related to transportation of students with disabilities in Burlington School District.
Medicaid Clerk, Anne Marie Dresser, adresser@bsdvt.org. Medicaid Compliance and Education Reimbursement Office

Parent Connection Meetings

Please join us for a monthly Student Support Services Parent Connection meeting to be held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 4:30 – 5:30 PM. Join the Google meeting on your computer or join us via phone at: 1 727-314-3227‬ PIN: ‪746 278 930‬#.

Read our note to learn more about these meetings or view past meetings below.

Parent & Guardian Resources

US Dept of Education: IDEA – Information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Vermont Agency of Education Website – The Agency of Education of Vermont website. This is a good resource for forms, processes and contacts specific to Vermont education needs for all students.

Vermont’s Policy and Procedures: Significant Disproportionality in Special Education: Measurement of racial and ethnic disparity in special education outcomes. Disproportionality becomes significant when the overrepresentation exceeds a defined threshold.

Notice of Procedural Safeguards – English – Information for families about special education rules

Notice of Procedural Safeguards – Translated – Translated information for families about special education rules in 13 languages

Vermont Special Education Rules – The unannotated special education rules for Vermont

Private School Parent Rights Notification – Responsibility of the Burlington School District for the provision of special education services to students enrolled in private schools

Staff Resources

Homelessness Referral Form: Form for parents, guardians or teachers to refer students who are homeless for assistance in remaining in school.

Burlington School District Special Services Procedure Manual: Procedural Manual for Speical Education

Special Education Paraeducator Handbook: Handbook for special education paraeducators

Please visit our Staff Portal if you are a staff member in need of staff forms, procedures, or other information for this department.