Appendix A: Guidelines for Reimbursement for Children in Residential Placement Reimbursement for Reunification Visits Introduction The following information is established to provide guidelines to participating Charter Local Education Agencies (LEAs) regarding authorized travel-related expenses/reimbursement of parent reunification visits for residentially placed children receiving special education services. The role of the Desert Mountain Charter Special Education Local Plan Area (DMCS) in this process is primarily to facilitate the assessment and referral process for residential placement for mental health purposes on behalf of participating Charter LEAs. Parent reunification visits are family meetings that are agreed upon through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and arranged by the DMCS, Charter LEA, and the parent. The Charter LEA is the authorized agent to approve all necessary parent reimbursements relating to the reunification visit(s). Therefore, parent reimbursement claims should be submitted to the Charter LEA for verification and reimbursement. Parent reimbursement will only be provided when the child’s IEP specifies a residential placement located outside the boundaries of the DMCS member LEAs. Reimbursement may include transportation, lodging, and meals. Additionally, parent reimbursement claims for additional family member(s) participation at approved family meeting(s) is not uncommon and has been accommodated for reimbursement based on the IEP team’s determination of the child’s needs and/or the IEP team’s approval of the recommendation of the mental health treatment plan. The approval of additional requests for reimbursement beyond those determined to be educationally necessary by the IEP team will be at the discretion of the Charter LEA under its adopted policy. Reimbursement to Parent (Children receiving mental health services) “The LEA is financially responsible for reasonable expenses associated with the transportation of a pupil with a disability to and from the mental health services that are specified on the pupil’s IEP. The determination of the appropriate number of trips home from a residential facility as well as the frequency of reunification visits required in order for a child to benefit from special education, should be determined by the IEP team on a case-by-case basis.” (Letter to Dorman, 211 IDELR 70 (OSEP 1978); Letter to Anonymous, 213 IDELR 164 (OSEP 1988). The residential facility may arrange for transportation of the child to the residential facility. Cost for this transportation is to be submitted as an invoice and paid directly by the Charter LEA. In some instances, however, it may be necessary for a parent to transport their child to the residential facility. In this case, the following parameters and procedures for parent reimbursement shall apply: A. Transportation of Child to/from Residential Placement Facility
BP 6002 – Nonpublic Agency/Nonpublic School Services
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Desert Mountain Charter Special Education Local Plan Area (DMCS) (rev. 09/18)
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