Welcome to
the Tennessee Valley!
Whether you have just moved or are planning and preparing to move to metro Chattanooga or Northwest Georgia area, we hope you will enjoy your new home. LifeLine families understand that moving from city to city with a child with special needs can add additional challenges to those a family already face. Because we are right here on the border of Tennessee and Georgia, there are multiple things to consider when making a choice of which side to settle on. There will be multiple concerns to balance when you move and our families would like to make it easier for you. We have compiled some contact information, thoughts, and ideas to share. We hope it will help!
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Contact information for school systems within metro Chattanooga.
TENNESSEE
Hamilton County Department of Education, Tennessee
Exceptional Education Director Garfield Adams
Marion County Department of Education, Tennessee
Exceptional Education Becky Bigelow
Sequatchie County Department of Education, Tennessee
Special Education Supervisor Dr Todd W Shultz
Cleveland City School District, Tennessee
Supervisor of Special Populations David Stone
Bradley County Schools, Tennessee
Special Education Supervisor Ruth Ann White
Bledsoe County Schools, Tennessee
Special Education Department Carl Boynton
Grundy County Schools, Tennessee
Supervisor of Special Education Lisa Magouirk
Meigs County School System, Tennessee
G David Brown Deputy Director for Special Programs and Services
Monroe County Schools, Tennessee
Trey Ferguson, Supervisor of Special Education
McMinn County School System, Tennessee
Polk County Schools, Tennessee
Supervisor of Special Education Jean Bramlett
Rhea County School District, Tennessee
LeAnn Kelly, Special Education Coordinator
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GEORGIA
Walker County Schools, Georgia
Special Education Director Angie Ingram
Parent Mentor Michal Jones
Catoosa County Public Schools, Georgia
Special Education Director Becky Connor
Parent Mentor Sharon Aalfs
Chickamauga City Schools
Special Education Director Stacy McDaniel
Dade County Schools
Special Education Director
Parent Mentor Cynthia Daniels
Chattooga County School District
Special Education Director, Beth Hall
Parent Mentor
Trion City Schools
Special Education Director, Angie Bowman
Parent Mentor, Linda Young
Whitfield County Schools
Special Education Director, Sarah Hoskins
Parent Mentor, Erin Arledge
Dalton (City) Public Schools
Special Education Director, Amy Bowers
Parent Mentor, Vacant
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Tennessee Department of Education Special Populations & Student Supports
Georgia Department of Education Special Education Services & Supports
Find a Parent Mentor in Georgia (Parent Mentors are employed by the individual school districts through the Georgia Department of Education. These are different than LifeLine’s Parent Mentors. To learn more about our mentor program, click on ParentLink.)
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Whether you are transferring an IEP, 504 plan, Service Plan, or just beginning the process to determine eligibility services, some of the processes may look different than those you are used to using. Terms may be different and culture of the systems may be different. (Example: In general, northwest Georgia schools have a reputation for being more inclusive than Tennessee schools. Georgia schools also tend to encourage more parental participation than Tennessee schools at this time. Hamilton County, being the largest in the metro area, has a greater continuum of placement options than most of the other counties in our immediate vicinity. Some terms for placement options may be different as well.) There are, however, very specific guidelines in IDEA that will help guide your transfer.
IDEA Regulations on Transferring IEPs between States & School Districts
Transfer Inside the Same State
“In the case of a child with a disability who transfers school districts within the same academic year, enrolls in a new school, and who had an IEP that was in effect in the same state, the LEA (school district) shall provide such child with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previously held IEP, in consultation with the parents, until such time as the school district adopts the previous IEP or develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP that is consistent with Federal and State law.”
Transfer To/From Outside State
“In the case of a child with a disability who transfers school districts within the same academic year, who enrolls in a new school, and who had an IEP that was in effect in another state, the school district shall provide such child with a free appropriate public education, including services comparable to those described in the previous IEP, in consultation with the child’s parents until such time as the district conducts an evaluation, if determined to be necessary, and develops a new IEP, if appropriate, that is consistent with Federal and State law.“
Records Transfer Between Schools
IDEA also talks about record transference between the schools. “The new school shall take steps to promptly obtain the child’s records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education and related services to the child…”
Need to begin the process of special education eligibility?
IDEA clearly spells out the requirements for special education eligibility. If you are new to this process, you can find information here to get you started.
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Contact information for doctors, dentists, therapy groups, tutoring and disability related organizations within metro Chattanooga.
Find Pediatrician & Dental Groups Here
Find Therapy Groups & Tutoring Resources Here
Find a Church Here
Disability Related Organizations
Chattanooga Autism Center
Chattanooga Area Brain Injury Association
Chattanooga Down Syndrome Society
Child Life Department of Children’s Hospital at Erlanger
Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee
Hatch’s House for Childhood Cancer
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents, Inc.
Walter Boehm Birth Defect Center
Realtors
We love to support realtors who are or have been caregivers to family members with disabilities.
Christa French
If we can help you navigate this move more easily, please let us know! LifeLine families are here to help. Join our Facebook Page, sign up for our email list, and Facebook Group to learn about all that LifeLine is doing. We hope you will join us!