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The Etowah County School System is dedicated to embracing federal meaningful educational services to all students who reside in its school system. When a child is helped and a family is guided, many lives are enriched. Students between the ages of three and twenty-one are cherished individuals who deserve the opportunity to have progressive programming based on individualized evaluations which will lead to a student making progress through a free, appropriate public education.

When a child is helped and a family is guided, many lives are enriched.


Welcome

Mark your calendars and get ready to start your learning adventure with Etowah County Schools!  Kindergarten Registration is happening on Wednesday, April 30, 2025! Please contact the elementary school in your district for additional information and registration times.

Etowah County Board of Education

Kindergarten Registration

Thank you for your interest in our First Class Pre-K program! The drawing has been completed. If your child's name was drawn for a spot in one of our classrooms, you will receive a telephone call or email from the school principal. If you do not receive a telephone call or email, your child's name will be added to our waiting list.

First Class Pre-K Program

First Class PreK Program drawing has been completed.

Attention: Parents & Employees

[]()Regarding the recent PowerSchool Breach, if you receive an email from PowerSchool (Ps-sis-incident@mail.csid.com), it is legitimate.

The emails have important information you will need to review about free credit monitoring (Experian) and information about protecting against identity theft.

Important Announcement

The Etowah County School Foundation is now accepting student scholarship applications.

The ECSF will award a $500.00 scholarship to a high school senior from each of our six high schools. (*Applicants must be high school seniors enrolled at one of the six high schools within Etowah County Schools: Gaston, Glencoe, Hokes Bluff, Sardis, Southside, or West End.)*

Students shou​ld read the checklist and application carefully before applying. Scholarship applications must be submitted on or before *Friday, April 4, 2025 to the address below.*

Attention: Kim Reed

Etowah County Board of Education

401 Broad Street

Gadsden, AL 35901

**Incomplete applications or  applications submitted after Friday, April 4, 2025, will not be considered.**

[ECSF Student Scholarship Applications are available on the ECBOE website.](https://www.ecboe.org/en-US/etowah-county-school-foundation-92f839a0)

Etowah County School Foundation Student Scholarship

Get ready to lace up your running shoes and show your support for the students of Etowah County Schools! Join us for the Etowah County School Foundation Student Scholarship 5K Run/Walk, set to take place on **Saturday, April 5, 2025**, at the scenic Noccalula Falls. This trail run covers a gravel path, making for an exhilarating experience. The course will use Noccalula Falls Multi-Use Trails, clearly marked and easy to navigate for runners and walkers alike. Don't miss this opportunity to support education and fitness in our community!

Click RunSignup to register online.

[Click 5K Run/Walk for a Registration form.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tXbdiuH5UnG1AdkxK33J-EvDWb0QYXEz/view?usp=drive_link)

[Click 5K Run/Walk for a Sponsorship form.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/16JHqV8JKZXYvf2kfoS8Zep6ZMIGvDZyj/view?usp=drive_link)

Etowah County School Foundation 5K Run/Walk

Etowah County School District was notified on January 7, 2025, of a recent cybersecurity incident involving PowerSchool, a widely used education software provider that provides our district’s student information system. On December 28, 2024, PowerSchool identified unauthorized access to certain customer information through its PowerSource portal. The company has assured us that the incident is contained, and there is no evidence of ongoing unauthorized activity or operational disruptions. Affected data may include sensitive personal information such as names, addresses, and email addresses. Social security numbers were not involved. PowerSchool has implemented enhanced security measures, deactivated the compromised credentials, and is offering credit monitoring and identity protection services for certain impacted individuals. Etowah County School District is working closely with PowerSchool to communicate with families, educators, and stakeholders.

The State Report Card is out and we are thrilled to announce that the Etowah County School System has achieved an overall score of 86/B on the state report card, reflecting the hard work and dedication of our entire community. Additionally, we are proud to share that four of our elementary schools earned A's on their school report card, a testament to the incredible effort and achievement within those schools. Congratulations to Hokes Bluff Elementary, John S. Jones Elementary, Southside Elementary, and Whitesboro Elementary!

This milestone demonstrates our commitment to ongoing improvement in key areas, including academic achievement, academic growth, chronic absenteeism, college and career readiness, and our graduation rate. We recognize that this success is a collective effort, and we remain focused on continuing to raise the bar for excellence across all levels of our school system.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our administrators, faculty, and staff members, whose passion and dedication are the foundation of our success. To our parents, thank you for your support and partnership in your child’s education. And most importantly, we celebrate our students, who inspire us every day with their hard work, determination, and pursuit of excellence.

This achievement reminds us of what we can accomplish when we work together toward a shared vision of academic excellence. As we celebrate, we also recommit ourselves to building on this success and ensuring every student in our district has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

As a district, we will continue to empower all students to be academically, technologically, and socially successful,  we will challenge all students to be productive citizens, and we will succeed by creating strong home, community, and school partnerships.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we will continue striving for greatness!

Sincerely, 

**Dr. Alan Cosby, Superintendent of Etowah County Schools**

2023-2024 State Report Card

### **What is Child Find?**

Child Find is a statewide effort by the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services to locate, identify, and evaluate children with disabilities from birth to age 21.

### **How Does Child Find Work?**

Early Intervention and Special Education Services work closely with community service agencies, parents, and local school systems to locate children with disabilities. For parents or other persons interested in information about referring a child from birth to age 21, the toll-free telephone number is 1-800-543-3098.

### **Why is Child Find Important?**

Child Find helps the child, the family, and the provider to plan appropriate services and link families to services for students who may meet special education eligibility requirements.

**For more information about Child Find, contact Etowah County Schools at 256-442-1050.**

Child Find

District News

Learning Center

***Student Device Policy:***

Students shall not **possess** any digital device within the testing room when participating in ACAP testing. **The possession of a digital device by students participating in ACAP testing is strictly prohibited during the administration of a test.** The **ONLY** exception to this policy is for students who have been pre-approved by the Building Test Coordinator or the Principal to have a digital device that is necessary for the health and/or well­ being of the student.

If students are in **possession** of a digital device that is within their reach during the administration of an ACAP test, the device will be confiscated and, if the appropriate administrator determines that there is reasonable suspicion that the device was used to capture, record, or share test information or to facilitate cheating on the test, it may be subject to search pursuant to LEA policy for any information directly related to the ACAP test being administered. Additionally, the student will be dismissed from testing immediately and the test may be invalidated in accordance with ACAP policy. **Violation(s) may result in disciplinary action by the LEA in accordance with the LEA's disciplinary policy.**

Student Device Policy

Learning Center News

Dear Parents of our Students with Disabilities,



As you know, we are embarking on a school year like no other, and I know that you have many questions and concerns regarding your children. Let me start by saying that I took this position for one reason and one reason only….to help kids with disabilities. Anyone who knows me knows that each of these students have a very special place in my heart and they are the reason I get up every morning and come to work. I love them each like they are my own and I share your worries and concerns.



While I do not have specific information at this point, I will assure you of one thing, your student will receive the services that they require to be successful in school as well as in everyday life, if the Etowah County Department of Special Education has anything to say about it.



I am currently working on a very general plan of action for our department, but we will not have a one plan fits all students. Each student is unique and has strengths and needs specific to them. Therefore, we will be looking at each student on an individual basis with the help of the IEP or 504 team to come up with the best plan for each one. Whether you make the choice to send your student to traditional school or choose the virtual option, we will have a plan in place to ensure that your child receives everything that he/she needs. This manner in which educational services will be provided will be based on what is best for each individual student.



I do ask that you be patient in the coming weeks while we make some decisions. Your individual schools will be getting in touch with you to schedule IEP and 504 meetings. If you have any questions or concerns for me, please feel free to email me at allison_stevens@ecboe.org or call The Learning Center at (256) 442-1050.



Sincerely,



Allison Stevens
Director of Special Education and 504
Etowah County Schools


Director's Message

FAPE must be available to all disabled children residing in the State of Alabama/confines of the Etowah County School School System between the ages of 3 and 21, including children with disabilities who have been suspended or expelled from school.



The Etowah County School System will ensure that FAPE is available to any individual child with a disability who needs special education and related services, even though the child has not failed or been retained in a course or grade, and is advancing from grade to grade.



The determination that a child is eligible under the law must be made on an individual basis by the IEP Team which is responsible for making eligibility determinations.


Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

The Etowah County School System directly serves gifted students at The Gifted Center located at the Career Technical Center for students in grades 3-6. Indirect services are provided in the individual schools for grades K-2 and grades 7-12.


Gifted Services

For preschool children, an IEP must be in effect no later than the child’s third birthday unless otherwise specified by the IEP Team. For all other children, this system will have an IEP in effect for each child with a disability within its jurisdiction at the beginning of each school year. A meeting to develop an IEP must be conducted within 30 calendar days of the initial determination that the child qualifies for special education and related services. The IEP must be in effect before special education and related services are provided to a student as well as written permission from the parent to provide the services. Parents receive prior notice before an IEP Meeting occurs.


 Effective Dates for IEPs

The Learning Center
209A Grand Ave., West
Rainbow City, AL 35906

256-442-1050  Main Office 256-442-1077 (fax)
256-538-6264 The Gifted Center (located at the Career Technical School)


To Contact the Special Education Department:

Learn More

Etowah County Schools

Etowah County School Foundation 5K Scholarship Run

ECBOE Board Meeting

Good Friday Holiday-No School

Special Olympics

Special Olympics-Rain Day Makup

Large Elementary Schools Track Meet

Rain Day Makeup-Large Elementary Schools Track Meet

Elementary Math Bee

Please contact the elementary school in your district for additional information and registration times.

Learning Center

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Etowah County Schools on Facebook

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