Exceptional Children’s Services
Welcome to Exceptional Children’s Services, where each day begins with putting children first, we bring them to their fullest potential by meeting their unique needs, enriching their academic lives, and providing comprehensive equitable services. Our team of experts is focused on meeting the needs of all families and schools throughout the city.
We provide the following services:
- Multidisciplinary Evaluations in Compliance with Louisiana Bulletin 1508
- Child Search for Children 3-5 Years of Age
- Child Find for Children in Schools within our LEA and in Non-Public Schools
- Child Find for Hospitalized and/or Incarcerated Youth
- Administrative Reviews of Private Evaluations
- 504 Grievance Procedures
- Complaint Protocol for Students with Disabilities
- Support and Guidance for Families in Need of Services
- Support and Guidance for Schools
Family and Community Resources:
Child Search
Our Child Search Office conducts screenings and/or multidisciplinary evaluations for children, ages 3-5, suspected of having a disability. This service is provided to all children within Orleans Parish, at no cost to the family.
To access the Child Search Scheduling System, please click Child Search, or call 504-304-4988 to schedule an appointment.
Administrative Reviews of Private Evaluations
If your child has a current evaluation (within one year of today’s date) from a private vendor, please bring a copy of the complete evaluation and the Request for Administrative Review to the attention of the SESS Coordinator, at 3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Suite 2060, New Orleans, LA 70114, or email a copy to ecs@opsb.us.
Section 504 Grievance Procedures
These procedures were designed to provide an orderly process for the resolution of student and
parent/guardian complaints related to the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 and Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination against a person with a disability solely on the basis of that disability in programs, activities or employment practices. An equitable resolution of such complaints should be secured at the most immediate administrative level as fairly and expeditiously as possible. Click here for the Section 504 Grievance Protocol.
Special Education Complaint Protocol
If your child has an IEP and attends a school under the jurisdiction of the Orleans Parish School Board, and you would like to submit a complaint, please use the Online Complaint Submission Form.
You are not required to use this form to file a complaint with the Orleans Parish School Board. You may send a letter or e-mail instead of this form; however, the letter or e-mail must include the information identified in this form. All complaints are received and reviewed by Laverne Fleming, Assistant Director. Ms. Fleming can be reached via the following mediums: 3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Suite 2060, New Orleans, LA 70114; 504.304.4197; laverne_fleming@opsb.us.
Special Education Program Descriptions
Per the SPLC Agreement, LEAs are required to provide information about their special education programming that is publicly available and accessible online. The Orleans Parish School Board Program Descriptions are provided here.
Special Education Policies and Procedures
Disability Discrimination Complaint Procedures
Discipline Policy & Procedures for Students with Disabilities
Seclusion and Restraint Procedures
Section 504 Rights and Grievance Procedures
Enrollment Discrimination Policy Guidance
Undocumented Suspension Guidance
Parent FAQs Special Education in Charter Schools
The Exceptional Children’s Services Leadership Team
Shayla Guidry Hilaire, Ed.D.
Executive Director |
shayla_guidry@opsb.us |
Joni Lastrapes
Assistant Director of ECS |
joni_lastrapes@opsb.us |
Kathryn Elichman
Assistant Director of ECS |
kathryn_elichman@opsb.us |
Dionne Parker-George
Assistant Director of Child and Family Services |
dionne_parker-george@opsb.us |
Angela Pierre
Assistant Director of Speech and Non-Public Supports |
angela_pierre@opsb.us |
Shawann Watson
Fiscal Manager |
shwatson@opsb.us |