Public Notice

All responsible public agencies are required to locate, evaluate, and identify children with disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of the agency, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children, such as migrant and homeless children, children who are wards of the state, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade.  The Newtown-Harris R-III School District assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction.  Disabilities include autism, deaf/blindness, emotional disorders, hearing impairment and deafness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment/blindness, and young child with a developmental delay.

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District assures that it will provide information and referral services necessary to assist the State in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps program.

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District assures that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the agency for the purposes of identification, evaluation, placement, or provision of FAPE of children with disabilities may be inspected and/or reviewed by their parents/guardians.  Parents/guardians may request an amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child.  Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District has developed a Local Compliance Plan for the implementation of State Regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  This plan contains the agency’s policies and procedures regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agency’s assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act (GEPA).  This plan may be reviewed at the Special Services Director’s office, Tuesday-Friday from 9:00-3:00.

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Hubbard, Superintendent/Special Services Director at 660-794-3361.

What is FAPE

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act guarantees a student with a disability the right to a free and appropriate public education.  The right to a free and appropriate public education is also known as FAPE. 

If your child has a disability, it is essential to know what legal rights your child has--and does not have--under FAPE.

FAPE requires schools to:

Use specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of the child.

Provide related services that would help your child to benefit from special education, such as speech/language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, etc.

Provide these services at no cost.

Create an individualized learning plan (IEP) that includes services, goals, progress monitoring, and modifications and/or accommodations that will help your student participate in the general education setting.

Ensure that your child is placed in the least restrictive environment. (It is important that your child is learning with peers who are not receiving special education services.) 

FAPE does not require schools to:

Maximize your child’s potential; services must be reasonable to help your child progress.

Guarantee your child a specific educational program or class setting.

Give your child preferential treatment regarding participation in extracurricular activities and clubs. (Schools, however, must ensure that your child has an equal opportunity to participate).

Procedural Safeguards

Every year, the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and state regulations implementing IDEA require that parents be given a statement of procedural safeguards. (July 1, 2005). Other instances where procedural safeguards should be given to parents include: within five school days of the date of a referral for an initial evaluation, on the date that a decision was made to a change of placement due to disciplinary action, and upon request by the parent of an additional copy. In the event of a due process hearing request or child complaint, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provides the procedural safeguards statement at the first filing. 

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District provides Procedural Safeguards in English, however, DESE provides several foreign language translations. 

• https://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/se-compliance-procedural-safeguards-english-august-2009.pdf

Special Services Plans

The start of the school year brings excitement and anticipation of things to come. Students and teachers alike have the opportunity to start fresh. One of the roles or our Special Services Team at Newtown-Harris is to write and implement IEP’s and 504’s for students. These two plans have similarities, but also have some distinct differences.

An IEP plan is part of the Individual with Disabilities Act(IDEA) served under the Department of Education. A 504 plan is part of Civil Rights-Rehabilitation Act of 1973 served under the Office of Civil Rights. They both are in place for students to have access to the best public education possible. If you have any questions about any of these plans at Newtown-Harris contact the Special Services Office. 

Mrs. Stephanie Hubbard is the Director of Special Services.. She can be reached at 660-794-2245 or shubbard@nhtigers.k12.mo.us.

Our district principal play an active role in equipping our teachers, paraprofessionals, and staff to make sure every student has the education and resources they need to learn to the best of their abilities. 

• District Principal, Mrs. Shannon Bain, sbain@nhtigers.k12.mo.us  660-794-2245.

Special Education and 504 Teacher/Coordinator:

• Mrs. Josie Hinkel, jhinkle@nhtigers.k12.mo.us, 660-794-2245.

Enrollment of Foster Care Children
Prior to a foster student enrolling in the Newtown-Harris R-III School District, a Best Interest Determination (BID) meeting needs to occur.  The Foster Care Liaison will be a part of a meeting to determine which placement is in the best interest of the student.  The meeting will also include a representative from the Children's Division (CD), and a representative(s) from the school of origin or residence.  Other individuals in attendance may include the parents/guardians and student, if appropriate; and any other person requested by the student.  Child-centered criteria, including safety issues, educational programs, student needs, proximity to school as well as other factors, are discussed by the team members to determine the best educational placement for the child.  If the BID team cannot reach a consensus regarding the best placement, the representative from the CD will make the final determination.

If you would like additional information about enrollment or the BID process, please visit the DESE's Foster Care website.

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District  Foster Care Liaison will provide assistance regarding all aspects of the enrollment, placement, transfer, and withdrawal of children in foster care and serve as the point of contact for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the CD.

Foster Care Dispute Resolution Process

Stephanie Hubbard is Newtown-Harris R-III's Title I Foster Care Coordinator.  She can be reached at: 

306 N. Main St. Newtown, MO 64667

660-794-2245

shubbard@nhtigers.k12.mo.us

Title 1

The purpose of Title I funding and programming is to provide early intervention and academic support for economically deprived students who might otherwise be at risk of performing below grade level during the school year.

ESSA Complaint Procedures

Newtown Harris ElementarySchool Parent and Family Engagement Policy 

Newtown Harris Elementary Schoolwide Program Plan 

English Language Learner (ELL) Program

Newtown-Harris R-III School District

Compliance with Missouri State Requirements

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District is committed to providing comprehensive educational services to English Language Learners (ELLs) in full compliance with federal and Missouri state requirements.

Legal Foundation

Our ELL program operates under the following legal requirements:

• 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Guarantees equal protection of the laws to all persons

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance

• Equal Educational Opportunities Act: Requires educational institutions to take necessary steps to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers to equal participation in instructional programs

• Lau v. Nichols (1974): Establishes that providing the same facilities, textbooks, teachers, and curriculum does not constitute equal treatment for students who do not understand English

Student Identification and Assessment

Language Use Survey (LUS)

All newly enrolled students complete a Language Use Survey during the enrollment process to identify potential English learners.

WIDA Screening

Students identified through the LUS as speaking or understanding a language other than English are screened using:

• WIDA Screener for grades 1-12

• WIDA Screener for Kindergarten for kindergarten students

• WIDA Alternate Screener for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (as determined by IEP team)

Annual Assessment

All students formally identified as English Learners are administered the ACCESS for ELLs assessment annually until they attain Missouri’s definition of English language proficiency.

Program Services

English Language Development (ELD)

Our district provides English Language Development services aligned with:

• Missouri Learning Standards: All ELD curriculum is aligned with state content standards

• WIDA Standards: Missouri is a member of the WIDA Consortium, which provides world-class instructional design and assessment for English learners

• Grade-level curriculum: ELD instruction is coordinated with regular classroom programs to ensure content alignment

Instructional Approach

• Content and language objectives are integrated into each unit, topic, or theme

• Meaningful education that enables ELs to meet state proficiency standards

• Ongoing authentic assessments to measure growth in English language proficiency and academic content comprehension

Qualified Personnel

All staff administering ELL assessments meet Missouri requirements:

• District employees

• Minimum qualifications of a paraprofessional (60 hours)

• Completion of required WIDA training for tests being administered:

  • WIDA Screener Training Course (completed initially and refreshed as needed)

  • WIDA ACCESS Training Course (completed annually for grades administered)

Parental Rights and Involvement

Parent Notification

Parents are notified when their child is identified as an English Learner and informed of available ELD services.

Right to Decline Services

Parents have the right to decline ESL services. However:

• The district maintains responsibility for providing meaningful education to the English Learner.

• The student must still be administered ACCESS for ELLs annually.

• Documentation is maintained when parents decline services.

• If declining services denies the student access to meaningful education, the district will work with families to ensure academic support.

Monitoring and Exit Criteria

English Language Proficiency

Students are monitored for progress toward English language proficiency using state-defined criteria and annual ACCESS for ELLs assessment results.

Post-Exit Monitoring

After students exit from ELL classification, the district monitors them for two school years to ensure continued academic success:

• Documentation maintained includes state assessment scores, final English language proficiency scores, and parental notifications.

• Students in the monitoring period do not take ACCESS for ELLs.

• Academic assistance and support are provided in general education classrooms as needed.

• Students may be re-admitted to the ELL program if academic difficulties are determined to result from continued English language proficiency challenges.

Continuous Improvement

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District regularly reviews and updates its ELL program in accordance with:

• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) guidance

• WIDA best practices and standards

• Federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

• Current research on effective practices for English learners

The Newtown-Harris R-III School District challenges language learners to be socially and academically successful students and active participants in "reaching for opportunities to achieve rigorous goals for a better school and community."

For questions Please contact Mrs. Shannon Bain:  

Shannon Bain is Newtown-Harris R-III's EL Coordinator.  She can be reached at: 

306 N. Main St. Newtown, MO 64667

660-794-2245

sbain@nhtigers.k12.mo.us

Stop the Bleed Training 

Commitment to Student and Staff Safety

The Newtown-Harris School District is committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and emergency preparedness. In compliance with Missouri state requirements, most of our teachers and staff have completed Stop the Bleed training on October 27, 2025.  The purpose of this training is to ensure we are prepared to respond effectively in medical emergencies.

What is Stop the Bleed?

Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and training program designed to teach individuals how to respond to bleeding emergencies before professional help arrives. This lifesaving training equips our educators with the knowledge and skills to provide immediate care in critical situations.

Training Components

Our certified staff members have been trained in:

• Recognizing life-threatening bleeding - Identifying when immediate intervention is necessary

• Applying direct pressure - The first and most important step in controlling bleeding

• Packing wounds effectively - Proper techniques for severe injuries.

• Applying tourniquets - Correct usage of tourniquets when necessary

• Emergency response protocols - Coordinating with emergency medical services

Missouri Compliance

The Newtown-Harris School District meets all Missouri state requirements for emergency bleeding control training. Our staff participates in regular training updates to maintain their skills and stay current with best practices in emergency medical response.

Emergency Preparedness Resources

Our schools are equipped with:

• Stop the Bleed emergency kits are strategically placed throughout buildings.

• Trained personnel on both campuses.

• Clear emergency response protocols

• Regular drills and training refreshers

Questions?

For more information about our emergency preparedness programs, please contact:

Newtown-Harris School District Superintendent- Stephanie Hubbard

660-794-2245

shubbard@nhtigers.k12.mo.us

Each year the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education provides school districts with an Annual Performance Report.  This report compiles information regarding academic performance as measured by the MAP test.  It also collects information related to attendance, graduation rate, and the college or career placement after high school, along with a few other data pieces.

The reports for the entire district, as well as each building can be found at the links below.

District 2020-2025 NH District Report Card

Elementary 2020-2025 NH Elementary Report Card

High School 2020-2025 NH High School Report Card

State Report Card

Missouri State Report Card 2020-2025

Newtown-Harris R-III School District

Nondiscrimination Statement and Complaint Process 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the district is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA. These programs include the National School Lunch Program, the Special Milk Program, the School Breakfast Program and the Summer Food Service Program. All information the district uses to inform parents/guardians, students and the public about the district's food service program will include a nondiscrimination statement and information on how a complaint may be filed with the USDA. Any person or representative alleging discrimination based on a prohibited basis has the right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action with the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights or the district's compliance officer listed in policy AC. Only the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture may extend the time for filing a complaint. Any person who files a complaint will be advised of the application of confidentiality laws, such as the Privacy Act of 1974. District staff who receive a complaint alleging illegal discrimination in the district's nutrition program will forward the complaint to the district's compliance officer immediately. The compliance officer will note whether the allegation was made verbally or in person and will transcribe the complaint if it is not provided in writing. As required by the USDA, the compliance officer will forward the complaint to the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights immediately and will not first attempt to resolve the complaint prior to contacting the USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html , and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

              Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

              1400 Independence Avenue, SW

              Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

Or via the USDA complaint filing portal.

Title 1

The purpose of Title I funding and programming is to provide early intervention and academic support for economically deprived students who might otherwise be at risk of performing below grade level during the school year.

• ESSA Complaint Procedures

• NH Nondiscrimination Statement and Complaint Process

• Title and Section 504 Grievance Form (Title VI, Title I,Title IX, Section 504)

• Newtown Harris ElementarySchool Parent and Family Engagement Policy 

• Newtown Harris Elementary Schoolwide Program Plan 

Stephanie Hubbard is Newtown-Harris R-III's Title I Coordinator.  She can be reached at: 

306 N. Main St. Newtown, MO 64667

660-794-2245

shubbard@nhtigers.k12.mo.us