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Welcome to the Cobb County School District Special Education website. It is our hope, on this page, you will find the information you are looking for concerning students with disabilities. If you are a parent of a student with a disability, please see the link below to our Parent Mentors’ page for additional information and resources. |
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Families of Students with Disabilities in Private or Home School
IDEA Equitable Services Timely and Meaningful Consultation for Students with Disabilities attending Private (Non-Profit) and Home School: Ongoing Consultation for the 2023-2024 school year and Initial Consultation for the 2024-2025 School Year.
Based on ongoing IDEA timely and meaningful consultation feedback, the district will continue to offer speech and language services through services plans to eligible students with disabilities attending non-profit private school and homeschool during the 2023-2024 school year.
In addition to speech and language services, we have a limited number of Core 5 and Power-Up web-based subscriptions from Lexia Learning Systems for eligible students with disabilities in private and home school. You may learn more about these reading resources by visiting: https://www.lexialearning.com/core5 (PK-5th grade) https://www.lexialearning.com/powerup (Grades 6th-12th) If you would like to discuss how you can access speech services and/or the online reading resources for eligible private or homeschool students with disabilities, or want more information about IDEA Equitable Services, please reach out to Teresa.Vento@cobbk12.org. The Department of Special Education will host an IDEA timely and meaningful consultation meeting with the private school and home school communities within the next few months. If your student is registered as a student with a disability on the homeschool portal through the Georgia Department of Education and/or you are currently receiving equitable services through a services plan, you should receive information about this process and a survey to provide feedback by USPS mail, in November. Please check back for updates and details. If you suspect that your child has a disability and would like to make a referral to determine your child’s eligibility for special education services, you may contact the Office of Student Assistance Programs at (678) 581-6803. |
George Morgan, Director Special Education 770-426-3309 | Email |
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Mr. Morgan serves as the Director of Special Education for the Cobb County School District. Mr. Morgan has worked in education for over fifteen years and has served in a variety of roles within the district. Mr. Morgan began his career as a middle school teacher at Haven Academy and has supported students with a variety of exceptionalities over the course of his career. In addition to serving as a middle school teacher, Mr. Morgan has served as an Assistant Director of Special Education for CCSD, an Administrator at Hillgrove High School, a Special Education Cluster Supervisor and an Education Program Specialist. Mr. Morgan continues to serve as a champion for students with disabilities within the district and is excited about the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity. |
Carla Canington Secretary 770-426-3309 | Email |
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Lisa Briley, Assistant Director Special Education 770-426-3328 | Email |
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Lisa Briley serves as an Assistant Director of Special Education for the Cobb County School District. Mrs. Briley has worked in the area of Special Education throughout her career. She has worked as a teacher for students with disabilities in a range of classroom settings from Special Needs Preschool through high school. In addition to her role as a classroom teacher for Cobb County Schools, Mrs. Briley has served as a Special Education Lead Teacher, Education Program Specialist, Cluster Supervisor, and Support and Service Administrator. With a student-centered focus, she is passionate about collaborating with all stakeholders to promote the success for all students. |
Holley Ashworth Secretary 770-426-3328 | Email |
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Sandra Murray, Assistant Director Special Education 770-426-3328 | Email
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Sandra Murray serves as an Assistant Director of Special Education for the Cobb County School District. Sandra has experience in supporting students with disabilities at the school and district level. She has served the Cobb County School District in the roles of Classroom Teacher, Intellectual Disabilities Trainer, Support Specialist, Supervisor of Special Education Compliance, and Special Education Program Supervisor. Sandra is passionate about supporting teams to create positive learning environments that foster student engagement, utilizing effective instructional strategies, and supporting the social and emotional development of all students. |
Holley Ashworth Secretary 770-426-3328 | Email |
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Stephanie Smith, Assistant Director Special Education 770-426-3328 | Email
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Ms. Smith serves as an Assistant Director of Special Education for the Cobb County School District. She has worked in education supporting students at both the local school level and district level for 17 years in the capacity of a general education teacher, special education teacher, behavior specialists, and special education program supervisor. Throughout her educational career, Ms. Smith has supported students with a variety of exceptionalities including emotional behavioral disorders, intellectual disabilities, and autism. Ms. Smith is dedicated to supporting all stakeholders in meeting the cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of all students. |
Holley Ashworth Secretary 770-426-3328 | Email |
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Jessica Coleman, Executive Director Special Education Compliance 770-426-3417 | Email |
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Jessica has 19 years of experience in the field of education. Her experience includes teaching in a small group classroom and providing support from a District level as an Autism Trainer, Education Program Specialist, Supervisor, Assistant Director, Director and now currently as an Executive Director. Jessica earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Special Education and also has a Masters and Specialists degree in Educational Leadership. |
Chandra Borden Secretary 770-426-3417 | Email |
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Kelli Kimbrell, Assistant Director Special Education Compliance 770-426-3417 | Email |
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Kelli Kimbrell serves as the Assistant Director of Special Education Compliance. Prior to working in the field of education, she worked with adults with disaiblities in various capacities which included the area of supported employment. As an educator, she has over 20 years of experience in the area of Special Education. Over the course of her career, she has taught students with a variety of exceptionalities at all grade levels. Additionally, she has served as a leader in mutliple capacities within the Cobb County School District. |
Chandra Borden Secretary 770-426-3417 | Email |
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Special Education Programs |
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Records and Transcripts |
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Special Education Records Room 514 Glover Street Marietta, Georgia 30060 Fax: 678.594.8630Click here: JR-3 Parent/Guardian Request for Special Education Records Click here: Special Education Records Room Clerk Contact By School
Anne Moore Special Education Records Clerk 770-426-3599 | Email
Pam Polk Special Education Records Clerk 770-514-3874 | Email |
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Please use these helpful FAQs below to find the information you require
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Who is my local school Special Education contact person? SSA-Support and Service Administrator? |
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Each school is assigned a special education Support and Services Administrator also known as the SSA. This person is your special education contact at your local school. See below for a list of SSAs for each school. SSA Assignments by School |
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Where can I find information about special education eligibility categories? |
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The Georgia Department of Education, Special Education Services and Supports, recognizes 12 categories of eligibility for students with disabilities. Click below for categories and information pertaining to them. Ga. DOE Eligibility Categories |
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Where can I find more information about special education rules? |
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You can find information from the GA DOE here. |
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How do I find out about funds for special needs scholarships? |
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The state of Georgia has a Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship Program which is also referred to as SNSP or Senate Bill 10 funds (SB 10). For information about the Special Needs Scholarship Program, click here. |
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How can I have special education questions answered in my native language? |
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The International Welcome Center can assist you with obtaining information in your native language. Click here |
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How do I get my student evaluated? |
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Contact the Support and Services Administrator that is assigned to your child’s school who will work with you to address your question(s) regarding an evaluation. SSA List is provided at the top of this page |
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Who do I contact with questions about Special Education Transportation? |
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The need for special education transportation is determined by your child’s IEP team. If special education transportation is indicated, it will be coordinated by the case manager. Please contact your child’s case manager or the Support & Services Administrator at your school with any transportation issues (i.e. moving, change in pick up/drop off location). Transportation changes may take up to 10 days to process. If you have questions regarding your student’s special education transportation, Click HERE to access the special education transportation website. |
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What is a Facilitated IEP Team Meeting and how do I request one? |
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A Facilitated IEP Team Meeting (FIEP) is an optional process, not required by the IDEA, that state educational agencies (SEA) or school districts may provide to parents and schools. A Facilitated IEP Team Meeting, lead by a facilitator, is designed to be a collaborative dispute prevention and resolution process used when members of an IEP team agree that the presence of a third party would help facilitate communication and problem solving. IEP Facilitators can be useful in various ways, including when there is a history of communication challenges or a meeting is expected to be particularly complex or controversial. A Facilitated IEP Team Meeting is the same as any other IEP team meeting, except that a facilitator from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) joins the meeting. The facilitator helps with communication among team members, and does not make decisions about the student’s IEP. The goal of a Facilitated IEP Team Meeting is to develop an IEP that is supported by team members and benefits the student. In a facilitated IEP Team meeting: - Families and schools agree to have a facilitator join an IEP Team meeting.
- Facilitators maintain open communication and ensure that everyone at the IEP Team meeting can participate fully.
- If disagreements arise during the meeting, a facilitator can help the Team clarify and resolve them.
- The facilitator typically does not address issues that are not related to the student’s IEP.
Who can request a Facilitated IEP Team Meeting? - Any parent whose child is in a Georgia school district participating in the GaDOE’s FIEP Team Meeting program, which includes the Cobb County School District
How do I request a FIEP? - Submit a completed request form to the GaDOE
- For a request form, CLICK HERE
Why would I request a FIEP? - To have a trained facilitator from the Georgia DOE create an environment in which the IEP Team members can listen to each others’ point of view and work together to create a quality, student-focused IEP
Click below for additional information pertaining to the Facilitated IEP Team Meeting process. Facilitated IEP (FIEP) Request Form IEP Facilitation Parent Guide FIEP Promotional Flyer FIEP Promotional Flyer – Spanish |
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What are the high schools graduation requirements for students with significant cognitive disabilities? |
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The graduation requirements have been established by the Cobb County Board of Education and can be found in Board Policy IHF-R: Graduation Requirements. For the Board Policy, click here. |
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What are the Special Education Abbreviations, Acronyms and Terminology? |
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Special Education Abbreviations, Acronyms and Terminology |
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District Administrative Rule JBCD-R Transfers |
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Click Here For More Information about Administrative Rule JBCD-R Transfers |
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How to obtain a copy of your diploma. |
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Obtain a Copy of Your Diploma |
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