Exceptional Student Services

The Exceptional Student Services (ESS) Department at ASA complies with IDEA ensuring that eligible children and youth receive a free appropriate public education.

ESS serves students through specially designed instruction based on specific identified needs. ESS addresses skill deficits through evidence-based practices, prioritizes data-driven decision making, and leverages the strengths of students to ensure that every child is successful at ASA and is prepared for a global society.  

The Exceptional Student Services department manages the services for students who receive special education and related services. 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal education law that outlines guidelines for schools to ensure that students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).  As a public charter school in Arizona, Arizona School for the Arts participates in the Child Find process (a component of IDEA) to identify, locate, and evaluate all children with disabilities within our served population who are in need of special education and related services. 

To qualify for special education, a student must be found eligible by a multidisciplinary evaluation team. Eligibility is two-fold and includes meeting criteria in one or more of the disability classifications and showing the need for specially designed instruction to meet a student’s unique needs. Below are the disability classifications recognized by IDEA:

  • Autism 
  • Development Delay (until age 10) 
  • Emotional Disability 
  • Hearing Impairment 
  • Mild/Moderate Intellectual Disability 
  • Multiple Disabilities 
  • Multiple Disabilities with Severe Sensory Impairment 
  • Orthopedic Impairment 
  • Other Health Impairments 
  • Preschool Severe Delay (preschool age only)
  • Specific Learning Disability 
  • Speech/Language Impairment  
  • Severe Intellectual Disability 
  • Traumatic Brain Injury 
  • Visual Impairment


Once qualified, Arizona School for the Arts provides special education services in accordance with a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) as mandated by IDEA. At ASA, we aim to partner with parents to compose and deliver a free appropriate high-quality public education that blends arts and academics. We believe that this type of education will breed confident and creative global citizens. 


Special Education Records

Special education records will be destroyed five (5) years after a student has withdrawn, transferred, graduated, or been exited from special education services at Arizona School for the Arts. This school year (2025-2026), we will destroy the records of students who left the school or exited services in the 2019-2020 school year.  If you are a parent or student and need a copy of your student’s special education records for any reason, please contact essrecords@goasa.org. 

Quick Links

 

For more information, please contact:  
Veronica Neal, M.Ed. 
ESS Director 
602-257-1444, ext. 1117
veronica.neal@goasa.org

EMAIL THE ESS DIRECTOR

How Does It Work?

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly referred to as “Section 504,” is a federal statute prohibiting discrimination against persons based on their disability by institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Section 504 regulations are under the jurisdiction of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).

Section 504 ensures that disabled students have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students. Students can be referred for a 504 evaluation by a parent or guardian, teacher, counselor, or other school staff member who suspects that the student may meet 504 eligibility criteria.  An eligible student under Section 504 is a student who has (1) a mental or physical impairment, (2) which substantially limits, and (3) one or more major life activities. It is important to understand that all three criteria must be met before the student is eligible for Section 504 protection. It is possible for a student to be eligible for Section 504 protection and not a Section 504 accommodation plan. As its name suggests, an accommodation plan outlines the accommodations needed in the school environment so that the student has equal access to the same opportunities as non-disabled students.

Section 504 Information

For more information, please contact:  
Veronica Neal, M.Ed. 
ESS Director 
602-257-1444, ext. 1117
veronica.neal@goasa.org

EMAIL THE ESS DIRECTOR

 

ASA has a full-time social worker on staff to support social & emotional wellness. The mission is to create a positive impact on student achievement by supporting the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of each child. Our social worker, along with caregivers, teachers, and staff members, identifies needs that might interfere with student learning and provides intervention to support the whole child’s growth.

 

Social Worker Roles

  • School-wide prevention services specific to each school’s identified goals, including bullying prevention, social & emotional learning, suicide prevention
  • Peer relationship support, social skills support, and conflict resolution, including restorative conversations and peer mediation
  • Individual and small group counseling, as well as referrals to outside behavioral health services
  • Social & Emotional Learning, coaching, support, and facilitation
  • Family and Community Engagement
  • When available, the provision of basic needs such as clothing, school supplies, and food supplies.
  • Referrals to community resources and assistance in locating appropriate help

If your family is in need of social and emotional support, please contact:  

For more information, please contact:  
Veronica Cons, MSW
School Social Worker
602-257-1444 
veronica.cons@goasa.org

EMAIL THE SOCIAL WORKER

We are committed to supporting all students, including children and youth experiencing homelessness, to provide equal access to public education. We work diligently across the District from our transportation team to our social workers to ensure all students have everything they need, including food, transportation, and clothing. We want children enrolled and successful in school, no matter their housing situation.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act defines educational rights and responsibilities to children and youth who are experiencing homelessness. Each state and local educational agency shall ensure that each educationally homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, provided to housed children and youth. Further, homeless children and youth shall have immediate access to the curriculum and any supportive services needed to ensure they have an opportunity to succeed in school.

If your family is lacking a fixed, adequate, and regular place to sleep, please contact:

Veronica Cons, MSW
School Social Worker
602-257-1444 
veronica.cons@goasa.org

EMAIL THE SOCIAL WORKER