With the reauthorization of IDEA in 2004, provisions were developed that outline the responsibility of State and LEAs to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities. The following are the major revisions that relate to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities according to the Office of Special Education: 1. Provision is made for the participation of children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private preschool, elementary, and secondary schools, consistent with their number and location in the State, in the program assisted or carried out under Part B by providing for such children special education and related services. 2. Activities are conducted to locate, identify, and evaluate children placed by their parents in private schools, including religious schools, who may need special education and related services. This requirement is known as child find and is the responsibility of the LEA in which the private school is located. 3. A proportionate amount of federal funds available under Part B is expended for services for parentally-placed private school children with disabilities. 4. Special education and related services may be provided to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities on the premises of private, including religious schools, in a manner that does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and is consistent with applicable State constitution and laws. Section B – Guidelines for Participating LEAs, Children with Disabilities Enrolled by Parents in Private Schools With respect to the California Education Code, the Desert/Mountain SELPA developed and approved the following operational guidelines to ensure participating LEAs in the Desert/Mountain SELPA, San Bernardino County: Locate, identify and evaluate all children ages three to 22 with disabilities enrolled by their parents in a private school who may be eligible for special education services; and Offer a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to all children ages three to 22 with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools who are determined to be eligible for special education services. A. Child Find 1. The Desert/Mountain SELPA will undertake the following child find activities for private school children ages three to 22: a) Presentations to representatives of private school children with disabilities, including private school administrators, teachers, parents and students regarding issues including, but
Chapter 19 - Private Schools and Services, Desert/Mountain SELPA
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As of 11/25/2009
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