Overview 

The Lancaster Central School District is committed to providing a quality education that appropriately meets the needs of all students. The information provided below will provide an overview of the services that the Pupil Personnel Office and Special Education Department provide as well as who to contact to get more specific information. Our department strives to provide balanced supports for every student to ensure the delivery of a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive setting.

Please feel free to call us to discuss any concerns you have regarding your child and his or her educational needs.

John Armstrong

Director of Special Education

716-686-3216

Email John Armstrong jarmstrong@lancasterschools.org


Erin Gannon

Assistant Director of Special Education

716-686-3875
Email Erin Gannon egannon@lancasterschools.org

All Lancaster Schools follow a Response to Intervention (RtI) model that screens students for possible learning difficulties. Subsequently, various teachers and other staff provide progressively more intense academic interventions in order to address such learning difficulties. In general, if a student does not respond appropriately to such interventions or is not making adequate progress after multiple interventions, then the building principal may submit a referral for an initial evaluation to help determine if a student has a disability. In turn, various school staff such as a school psychologist, speech therapist, or other professionals evaluate the student. Subsequently, the Committee on Special Education meets to review this evaluation and other information about the student’s performance and progress, and makes a determination as to whether the student has a disability or not. If a disability exists, then the Committee on Special Education develops an individual education program that specifies various accommodations, programs, and/or related services.

Lancaster Central School District provides a full range of evaluations, related services, and educational programs that cover the following areas:

• Speech & Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Counseling
• Consultant Teacher Services
• Resource Room Services
• Transition Services
• Self-contained classroom settings
• Home or hospital instruction
• Hearing & Vision Services
• Psycho-Educational Evaluations

The Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) is responsible for identifying preschool students (ages 3-4) with disabilities and arranging for the delivery of special education services to eligible students. A broad range of related services and special education programs are available to meet the educational needs of preschool students with disabilities.

If a parent or guardian suspects that his or her child has a disability or delay, they should contact the Special Education Department.