The Student Support Services Department supports Special Education, Section 504, Health Services, Homeless Student Services, Foster Care Education Support, School Attendance Support, and community partnerships. The focus of the department is to remove barriers and provide students with the tools and resources they need to benefit from their educational program and to feel connected, inspired, and empowered. 

Special Education

The district’s goal is to partner with families regarding the individual needs of children. The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal legislation that helps guide school teams and families in the qualification of students and the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEP). Orting has a continuum of services to meet the needs of our diverse student population. For additional information on special education programs and support for students, please see the Parent Handbook.

Records Request

To request Special Education records, please fax (360-893-4367) or email a request to Katrina Mang.

Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) is a federal civil rights law. It is designed to eliminate disability discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funds. Since all public school districts receive federal funds, all public school districts must comply with Section 504. Under Section 504, denying a disabled student a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”) is disability discrimination. 

Health Services

Home Hospital Instruction:  this service is provided to students who are temporarily unable to attend school for 4 weeks or longer because of physical disability or illness. Please see the Home Hospital Brochure and Application for additional information. 

Services for English Language Learners:

The district’s ELL (English Language Learners) certified teacher, together with classroom instructional staff, provides English Language Development support and services to both eligible students and students who have transitioned to language fluency, to achieve high academic standards. ELL eligible students have a primary language other than English and have been determined eligible based on the Washington ELPA-21.

Attendance Support:

The Special Services and Intervention Department works to support Orting Staff, families, and students to reduce barriers to regular school attendance.  If a student does not attend school, the law requires the school district to take several action steps including facilitating Community Truancy Boards as a middle step before formal legal action. Each Community Truancy Board is made up of educators and community members. Additional information regarding how you can support your child's school attendance can be found here.

Homeless Services:

The Special Services and Intervention staff support school staff to assist homeless children and youth to enroll and succeed in school.  The McKinney-Vento Act is federal legislation that has been in effect since 1987 to support children and youth experiencing homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Act defines ‘homeless children and youth’ as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Please visit our McKinney-Vento page for more information.

Foster Care Education Support:

The Special Services and Intervention Department staff support staff, families and students to improve the educational outcomes of children and youth in foster care. Schools, child welfare agencies, communities, and families work together to provide the equitable opportunities, specialized services, and useful supports that are essential for students in foster care to be successful in school and in life.

Community Mental Health Support: 

The district currently has agreements with Multi-Care Behavioral Health and Comprehensive Life Resources to provide mental health support and resources to students who need them to access their educational program.  Referrals are made by the school counselors in each school.

Before and After School Program:

The district is partnering with “Right at School” to provide before and after school programs. The fee-based services offer a curriculum that features hands-on learning, multi-sensory activities, child-driven projects, daily fitness, team building, and leadership development. The program will offer options for families to attend the before-school program, the after-school program, or both. For more information or to register your child, please visit: Right At School

Early Entry to Kindergarten: 

To be admitted to a kindergarten program that commences in the fall of the year, a child must be five (5) years of age as of August 31. However, School Board policies 2100 BP and 3110 BP, along with their associated procedures, allow for the district's consideration of Early Entry to Kindergarten, for children residing within the Orting School District boundaries, who turn five (5) years as of October 31 of the year of entry.  After testing, send the Completed and Signed Test Scores Form to the Student Support Services Office on or before August 1. There are no exceptions to this date. For information on how to apply, please view our Early Entry to Kinder Information sheet. To apply, please have a qualified professional fill out the application.

Education Ombuds Awareness

The Washington State Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds (OEO) is an independent state agency that helps to reduce educational opportunity gaps by supporting families, students, educators, and other stakeholders in communities across WA in understanding the K-12 school system and resolving concerns collaboratively.  OEO services are free and confidential. Anyone can contact OEO with a question or concern about school.

OEO listens, shares information and referrals, and works informally with families, communities, and schools to address concerns so that every student can fully participate and thrive in our state’s public schools. OEO provides support in multiple languages and has telephone interpretation available. To get help or learn more about what OEO does, please visit our website: https://www.oeo.wa.gov/en; email oeoinfo@gov.wa.gov, or call:  1-866-297-2597 (interpretation available). (English)