Exceptional Student Education (ESE) - Parent Forum and Survey

The event for parents of students with disabilities will take place Wednesday, March 29, from 6 to 7 pm in Conference Hall at the Pinellas County Schools Administration Building.

The forum will provide an overview of special education programs. The event will feature greetings from ESE Executive Director Lynne Mowatt, district highlights and several mini-information sessions from ESE specialists. The Administration Building is located at 301 4th St SW in Largo.

See the ESE Forum Flyer (pdf)

If you have questions, please contact Tracy McMannus, ESE Parent Services at mcmannust@pcsb.org or 727-588-6062.

Take the 2022-2023 ESE Parent Survey

The 2022-2023 ESE Parent Survey is open from March 22, 2023 through June 30, 2023.

Each year, the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) conducts a survey designed to provide FDOE and the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), with information on how well Florida’s schools are partnering with parents and promoting parent involvement in their child's education. The survey is open to all parents of children with an individual educational plan (IEP) receiving ESE services from preschool age through grade 12 and is not intended for parents of students receiving only gifted services through an educational plan (EP). All states must collect this data as part of their State Performance Plan, as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Florida uses the instruments developed by the National Center for Special Education and Accountability Measures (NCSEAM).

Comments (-1)

Exceptional Student Education (ESE)

Welcome to the Pinellas County Schools Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Information site.

The Pinellas County Schools (PCS), Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Department staff are here to support our district's vision of 100% student success and the mission to "Educate and Prepare Each Student for College, Career and Life".

New Posting: Save the Date!

Dear Parents,

Please join us for the ESE Parent Forum. The event will take place on Wednesday, March 29, from 6 to 7 pm in Conference Hall at the Pinellas County Schools Administration Building.

The forum will feature greetings from ESE Executive Director Lynne Mowatt, district highlights and several mini-info sessions from ESE specialists. The Administration Building is located at 301 4th St SW in Largo.

If you have questions, please contact Tracy McMannus, ESE Parent Services at mcmannust@pcsb.org or 727-588-6062. We hope to see you there.

ESE Mission

The mission of the Pinellas County Schools Exceptional Student Education is to provide quality services that support effective learning opportunities for all exceptional children. Pinellas County Schools serve approximately 13,500 students with disabilities and 10,000 students who are gifted.

Students ages 3-21 who meet eligibility requirements receive special education services, which include, but are not limited to, educational, vocational and behavioral support. Services meet the needs of eligible students while allowing access to general education instruction with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate for each student.

ESE Records

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Records can be requested by contacting your child's current or last school of attendance.

If you have questions about requesting copies of ESE records, contact Central Files.

Email: centralfiles@pcsb.org
Phone: 727-793-2701

We are here to help. Please complete a contact request form if you would like additional assistance.

Please submit the Contact Request Form

Contact Us:

PCS- ESE Department

301 4th Street SW

Largo, Florida 33770

Main Office Number: (727)588-6032

ESE Parent Services: (727)588-6062

ESE Updates:

Pinellas County Schools provides AIM as a component of the provision of free and appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). For more information regarding AIM, Learning Ally, Bookshare and NIMAC, please click on the following link: AIM memo

Parent Registration Process for Students with Disabilities

Parents of students with an IEP who are new to Pinellas County Schools should contact the Pinellas County Schools ESE Student Transfer Team at the Largo Administration Building, (727)-588-5128. Staff will verify IEP information to provide comparable services. Once verified, a school reservation will be confirmed. Parents will provide required documentation to the school.

The PreK Exceptional Student Education Program offers a variety of program models and options for children ages three through five who have been identified with developmental delay. In addition, children identified as visually impaired and deaf or hard of hearing receive services from birth through age three. For registration, contact the ESE PreK office at (727) 893-2851 Option 1.

Hospital/Homebound instruction is provided for students who are medically unable to attend school for an extended period of time. To determine appropriate program services, parents are encouraged to contact the Homebound office at (727) 669-1221.

Gifted Students enrolled in public, private or homeschool are served by the Gifted Program. For questions regarding the Gifted Program, contact Coral Marsh, Supervisor. Contact information, marshco@pcsb.org or (727) 588-6046.

The Florida Diagnostic Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is a network of state and federally-funded centers throughout Florida. Support services are provided to exceptional student educators, children, parents, and community agencies. To contact Child Find, call (727) 793-2721 For parent services, technology, or Human Resource Development, call (727) 793-2723.
For more information, go to the FDLRS website at gulfcoast.fdlrs.org

ESE Support Professionals are highly valued members of the school team. They play a vital role in ensuring that students with disabilities are provided access to and make progress in the general education curriculum.

Special Olympics Florida provides sports training and Olympic-style competition to more than 15,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the state. Pinellas County is an accredited local program through Special Olympics Florida.