Early Childhood Center

The Special Education Process

Adapted from the Department of Elementary and Special Education

• Child Find. Local districts must identify, locate, and evaluate all children residing in the district with disabilities that need special education and related services. To do so, districts conduct "Child Find" activities. Referral or request for evaluation. A school professional (i.e. teacher, counselor, principal) may ask that a child be evaluated to see if he or she has a disability. Parents may contact the child's teacher or other school professional to ask that their child be evaluated. This request may be verbal or in writing. Parental consent is needed before the child may be tested as part of an evaluation. The testing needs to be completed within 45 calendar days after the parent gives consent.
• Evaluation. The evaluation process includes a review of existing data and additional testing, if needed. The child must be evaluated in all areas related to the child's suspected disability. Evaluation results are used to decide the child's eligibility for special education and related services and to make decisions about an appropriate educational program for the child. If the parents disagree with the results or conclusions of any part of the evaluation, they have the right to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). They can ask that the school system pay for this IEE.
• Eligibility Determination. A team of qualified professionals and the parents look at the child's evaluation results. The team decides if the child is a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA. If the team cannot agree on your child's eligibility, the district must make the final decision about your child's eligibility. Parents may challenge the eligibility decision through a due process hearing. (For more information read Due Process in a following section.)
• Eligible. If your child is found to be a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA, he or she is eligible for special education and related services. Within 30 calendar days after a child is determined eligible, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team must meet to develop an IEP for the child. This team includes(team members can serve in more than one role) :
  a. Parents of the child
  b. Regular education teacher of the child
  c. Special education teacher of the child
  d. District representative
  e. Individual(s) who can interpret instructional needs identified in the evaluation process
• IEP Meeting Scheduled. School personnel will schedule and conduct the IEP meeting. School staff must:
  a. Contact the participants, including the parents
  b. Notify parents early enough to make sure they have an opportunity to attend
  c. Attempt to schedule the meeting at a time and place agreeable to parents and the school
  d. Tell the parents the purpose, time, and location of the meeting
  e. Tell the parents who will attend
  f. Tell the parents that the district and the parent may invite other people to the meeting who have knowledge or special expertise about their child if the district is unable to gain parent participation after attempting to schedule two separate meetings they may proceed without you.
• IEP Meeting. The IEP team meets to talk about your child's educational needs, write the IEP, then determine placement.Parents and the student (when appropriate for the student) are part of the team.
  Before the school district may provide special education and related services to your child for the first time, the parents must give consent for those services in writing. The child begins to receive services as soon as possible after consent is given. If the parents do not agree with the IEP and/or placement, they should discuss their concerns with the IEP team at the IEP meeting. Parents can ask for a resolution conference, mediation, or the school may offer mediation if parents and school personnel are unable to resolve their differences. Parents may request a due process hearing with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, at which time mediation will be offered by the State to the parents and the school district at no charge. (For more information on Due Process see the section on Dealing with Conflicts.)
• Services. The school makes sure that your child's IEP is implemented as it was written. Parents are given a copy of the IEP. Each of your child's teachers and service providers have access to the IEP and know his or her specific responsibilities for carrying out the IEP, including all accommodations, modifications, and supports that must be provided to your child. The IEP is a tool for you and the district to monitor your child's educational progress.
• Progress. Your child's progress toward the IEP annual goals is measured, as stated in the IEP. Parents are regularly informed of their child's progress and whether that progress is enough for the child to achieve the goals by the end of the year. These progress reports must be provided to parents for students with disabilities as often as reports are provided to parents for nondisabled children.
• IEP Review. The IEP team must review your child's IEP at least once a year, or more often if the parents or school personnel ask for a review. If necessary, the IEP is revised. Parents, as IEP team members, must be invited to attend these meetings. Parents can make suggestions for changes, can agree or disagree with the IEP goals, and agree or disagree with the placement. If parents do not agree with the IEP and/or placement, they may discuss their concerns at an IEP meeting with other members of the IEP team and try to work out an agreement. There are several options available, including additional testing, an independent evaluation, asking for a resolution conference, or asking for mediation or a due process hearing.
• Reevaluation. At least every three years your child must be reevaluated. Your child may be reevaluated more often if conditions warrant. (See the section on Reevaluation in this guide for more information.)

The Evaluation

The purpose of the evaluation is to determine if your child has a disability, to identify his or her education needs, and to determine the need for special education services. Your child must be evaluated in all areas related to the suspected disability. This evaluation will include reviewing existing information and conducting additional tests, if needed. The evaluation must be thorough enough to identify all of your child's special education and related services needs, even those that are not commonly linked to the suspected disability category. It must include information you provide and information related to enabling your child to be involved in and progress in the general education curriculum. If you submit a report from outside sources, the district must consider it as part of the evaluation process. No single procedure can be used as the only means of deciding if your child has a disability or what services are needed. Tests must be given in your child's native language or primary mode of communication. Tests or evaluation procedures must not be racially or culturally biased.

If your child is exhibiting behaviors that interfere with his or her learning or the learning of others you may request a functional behavioral assessment as part of the evaluation or reevaluation. Such an assessment helps families and school officials better understand why your child behaves the way he or she does.

Reevaluation

When your child is receiving special education services, a reevaluation must be done at least once every three years. If you think additional information is needed before time for the three-year reevaluation, you may request that the district conduct an earlier reevaluation. School personnel and parents may request a reevaluation at any time they think it may be necessary.

When conducting a reevaluation, the IEP team, including you and other qualified professionals, review current information about your child. This review may be done without a meeting. Evaluations and information provided by you, current classroom-based assessments and observations, observations by your child's teacher and related service providers such as occupational, speech, or physical therapists, are reviewed. The purpose of the reevaluation is to determine if any additional information is needed for the IEP team to decide:

• If your child still has a disability
• Your child's present level of performance and educational needs
• If your child continues to need special education and related services
• If any additions or modifications to your child's special education and related services are needed for your child to meet the IEP annual goals and participate in the general education curriculum
• If additional information is needed that requires testing, you will receive a written notice. Your informed consent will be necessary to do those additional tests. When you give your consent, the district will conduct the necessary tests within Sixty (60) days. The district must make two (2) attempts to obtain your signed consent. If you fail to respond to the district's requests, they can proceed with the assessments without your signature.
• If the IEP team decides additional information is not needed in order to decide if your child continues to have a disability, you must be notified of:
• The decision and the reasons for it, and,
• Your right to request an assessment to determine whether your child continues to qualify for special education services.

The district does not have to do additional testing unless the team reviewing the existing information agrees it is needed, or you request it to determine if your child continues to qualify for special education services.

Independent Educational Evaluation

If you disagree with the evaluation results, you have the right to request an independent educational evaluation (IEE) at public expense. Professionals who are not employed by the school district conduct an IEE. Your right to an IEE assures you that upon requesting the IEE, the district must provide you with information about where an IEE may be obtained and the agency criteria applicable for the IEE. It is always best to make such requests in writing, being sure to date your letter and keep a copy. (The district must provide you information about where independent educational evaluations may be obtained.)

You may request an independent evaluation, but the district may decide that its own evaluation is appropriate. If the district refuses to pay for an independent evaluation it must initiate a due process hearing to show that the districts evaluation was appropriate and the independent evaluation is, or was, unnecessary. If the hearing panel decides that an independent evaluation is necessary, the school district is responsible for the cost of this evaluation. If the hearing panel decides that the evaluation is not needed, parents will be responsible for the cost of the independent evaluation. The school must consider the results of an independent evaluation.

Any evaluation information you have about your child should be provided to and must be considered by, the school district.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Adapted from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

To better understand an IEP, consider that:

Individualized means that the IEP must be written for your particular child, not a group or class. It addresses the educational needs of your particular child.

• Education indicates that the IEP should address your child's problem areas of learning. It need not identify areas in which there is no concern; for example, if the student is not having problems with reading, there is no reason for reading to be addressed in the IEP.
• Program tells you that the IEP includes statements about your child's present educational abilities and needs, and outlines goals and objectives or benchmarks to be accomplished in the coming year. It lists necessary services that the school will provide during the year to assist your child in reaching those goals, including any assistive technology devices and/or related services that may be required.

If your child is age 16, or younger if appropriate, the district must tell you that one purpose of the IEP meeting is to consider any needed transition services, including those provided in the community, and that your child will be invited. Service providers from the community who may be providing services should be invited to each IEP meeting where transition services are discussed. (Transition is discussed in a later section.)

How do you prepare for an IEP meeting?

Your participation in any IEP meeting will be easier and more effective if you have thought about your concerns and what you have in mind for your child. Know what you want to say. Advocates and support from parent organizations can be helpful in preparing for an IEP meeting. (The Resource section of this guide can give you information about such organizations.)

The following suggestions are designed to help you prepare to participate effectively in the IEP meeting:

1. Gather information about your child. Review the most current evaluation report and the last IEP if your child is already receiving services. You might bring progress reports, other school evaluations, your observations, or doctors' reports.

2. If your child is already in school, you may want to request permission to observe the regular education classroom. You may want to take notes on your observations to use during the IEP meeting.

3. Watch and make notes of your child's behavior at home. Write down what your child can and cannot do, likes and dislikes, and interactions with other children and family members.

4. Find out what your child's feelings are regarding school, home, and friends.

5. Check the IEP meeting information provided by the district to determine who will be attending the meeting. Call the school if you have questions.

6. You may tell school personnel if you will be bringing someone with you, but you do not have to. Who you want to bring is up to you, as long as the person(s) have knowledge or special expertise about your child.

7. Notify school personnel in advance if you will not be able to attend the meeting as scheduled. Try to arrange for a meeting that is convenient for everyone. You may wish to see if arrangements can be made for your participation by phone if you cannot attend the meeting.

8. Keep records of your child's schoolwork, parent conferences, phone calls with teachers, progress reports, etc. Use this information to monitor your child's progress and to prepare for IEP meetings.

What will an IEP include?

There are several required components to the Individualized Education Program that need to be discussed and developed at the meeting and written in the IEP document.

1. Present level of performance

The present level of performance should provide a snapshot of your child. It should be written so clearly that you can easily identify the child's needs and know your child's strengths. It is the bridge between the evaluation and the instruction.

The present level must state:

• How your child's disability affects his or her participation and progress in the general education curriculum-the same curriculum as for children without disabilities--or appropriate preschool activities.
• The strengths of your child
• Your concerns for improving your child's education
• Changes in your child's functioning since the last IEP
• The results of the evaluation or reevaluation
• Your child's performance on State or district-wide assessments

Although it is not a required component of the IEP, the team may also consider the dreams and visions of all those involved with your child as well as your child's dreams and visions in order to develop an IEP that will help your child to become an independent and productive member of society.

2. Measurable annual goals including benchmarks or short-term objectives

Goals must address your child's needs. Goals should be clear and simply stated. You should be able to understand what is needed to implement the IEP. A goal should state what your child can reasonably be expected to learn during the twelve (12) months of the IEP. Goals must be measurable and the IEP must indicate how the progress toward the annual goals will be measured. What is your child expected to do by the end of the IEP's twelve (12)month period and how well will he or she do it? Goals must support your child's involvement in and progress in the general education curriculum. Goals must relate to meeting each of your child's educational needs.

Benchmarks describe the amount of progress your child is to achieve within specific segments of the year. Short-term instructional objectives separate the skills described in the goals into discrete components. Objectives or benchmarks must be included only for student's eligible for MAP-A.

3. Special education, related services, supplementary aids, program modifications, and/or supports that school personnel will provide for your child

Services the team decides your child needs to meet her/his goals are listed in the IEP. These services include special education and related services that are needed for your child to:

• Advance toward the annual goals
• Progress in the general curriculum
• Participate in extracurricular and nonacademic activities, such as sports and school clubs
• Be educated and participate with other children with and without disabilities in these activities

Services could also include supplementary aids and services, program modifications, or supports for school staff to meet your child's goals.

Special education services include, specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including instruction in the classroom, home, hospital or institution, and in any other setting; instruction in physical education; travel training to learn to move about the environment, and vocational education.

Related services can be any service that allows your child to benefit from their Special Education Services. The IDEA lists examples of related services that may be needed:

• Audiology
• Counseling services
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Early identification and assessment
• Psychological services
• Parent counseling and training
• Rehabilitation counseling
• Speech-language pathology services
• Social work services
• Recreation and leisure education
• School health services
• Medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes
• Transportation
• Orientation and mobility services for visually impaired students

4. Participation in state and district-wide assessments

The IEP team must make decisions about how your child will participate in State and district-wide assessments. The decisions include if your child will participate in the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) subject area assessments or the Missouri Assessment Program-Alternate (MAP-A). When making this decision, the team must consider what accommodations your child needs. If the MAP subject assessments are not appropriate for your child, even with accommodations, then the team will consider your child's eligibility for MAP-A.

The IEP must also address these same considerations for any assessment of student achievement that is administered by the district for all children that are in the same grade as your child. If the team decides your child cannot participate in a district-wide assessment, even with accommodations, the IEP must state why and how your child will be assessed.

5. Initiation, duration, frequency and location of services and modifications

The IEP must state when each special education, modification, accommodations, supplementary aids and services, and related service will begin, when it will end, how often it will be provided, and where it will be provided. The services must be provided as stated.

6. Procedures for evaluating progress and reporting to parents

The IEP must state how your child's progress on the annual goals will be measured. You must be informed of progress at least as often as parents are informed about the progress of children without disabilities and whether that progress is sufficient to achieve the goals by the end of the IEP period.

7. Transition services

Transition planning may begin earlier than age 16, but no later than by age 16 the IEP must include a statement of transition service needs (addressing courses of study your child will need to reach goals for life after school). No later than age 16, or earlier if needed, the IEP must also include a statement of needed transition services. This may include linkages with other agencies that might provide transition services for your child. Consideration will be given to cooperative work programs, vocational-technical training, supported employment, college preparation, and other considerations to help your child transition from school. If transition is discussed, your child must be invited to attend the IEP meeting. If your child cannot attend this meeting, then the district must assure that his or her needs and interests have been considered in the development of the transition services. Encourage your child to attend and explain her or his role to them so he or she feels comfortable in that role.

8. Transfer of rights

At least one year before your child turns 18, the age of majority, the IEP must include a statement that your child has been informed of his or her rights that will transfer to him or her at age 18. If your child is still ad dependent under Internal Revenue Service rules (living at home and supported by you), you still have the right to receive copies of any notices given to your child, to attend IEP meetings, and to access your child's educational records. When your child turns 18, the district will notify you that the transfer of rights has occurred.

9. Assistive technology

If the IEP team believes your child needs an assistive device and/or service, that information must be included in the IEP. This may be a device your child needs to improve function, or technology services needed for selecting, acquiring, or using an assistive technology device. Such services might include evaluation, including trying several different devices to find the one best suited for your child; providing, maintaining, customizing or replacing devices; coordinating other therapies with assistive technology; and training and technical assistance for your child, family, or others who work with your child.

10. Behavior intervention plan
If your child's behavior prevents his learning or the learning of others, the IEP team must consider positive behavioral interventions to address that behavior. If a behavior intervention plan is developed for your child, it must be a part of the IEP. This plan is not the same as your district's discipline plan.

11. Extended school year
The IEP must also indicate if extended school year services (education for more than the traditional school term) are needed. These are special education and related services provided during the summer months, Christmas break, or spring breaks, and are not the same as "summer school." The decision of whether or not your child needs extended school year services is an IEP team decision and is based on your child's unique educational needs, as are all other education decisions. Extended school year is not intended to initiate learning of new skills, but to reinforce learning connected to the annual goals. The school district should have an extended school year policy and guidelines to assist the team in making this decision.

One factor in determining if your child needs extended school year services is the difficulty your child may experience remembering information or skills previously learned (regression) and the amount of time it takes your child to learn those skills again (recoupment). Most children forget some skills they have learned during extended breaks in school programming, and it takes them some time to relearn those skills; it takes some children longer to relearn these skills than others. Other factors in determining if your child needs extended school year might include:

• The nature and severity of your child's disability
• Your child's progress in relation to behavior and physical needs
• The opportunities for your child to practice skills
• Areas of development that need continuous attention
• Your child's transition needs
• Opportunities your child has to interact with children without disabilities
• Areas of learning critical to your child's progress toward self-sufficiency
• Level of independent functioning

An example of a critical learning area might be that your child is just learning to feed him or herself; or your child is just beginning to understand the meaning of letters (critical to reading), or beginning to learn sign language (for a child who is unable to speak). All of these factors will be considered in relation to your child's goals, as indicated in the IEP. A new IEP is not developed for extended school year. It is a continuation of the IEP.

12. Participation in regular education and placement-Least Restrictive Environment
The IEP must address your child's participation in regular education. Regular education includes academic instruction as well as recess, lunch, and assemblies. If your child does not participate 100% of the time with nondisabled peers in regular education, a statement must be made describing the extent your child will not participate and why full participation is not possible. For preschool children, if participation with nondisabled peers is determined to be unnecessary for FAPE, the IEP must explain why.

After annual goals have been developed for your child in the IEP meeting, the team determines which services are needed and where they will be provided. This decision is referred to as the placement decision and is made each year. Your child's education should be in the least restrictive environment, which means: to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities are to be educated with children who do not have disabilities. For preschool children with disabilities, consideration must be given to the provision of special education services in the child's current daytime setting.

Special classes, separate schooling, or other removal from the regular education classroom occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education cannot be achieved in regular classes with supplementary aids and services. (A description of the types of placement alternatives is available in the Appendix for both ECSE and K-12 placements.) There are a variety of placement options in which a child with disabilities can receive special education and related services, but the regular classroom with supplementary aids and services must always be the first consideration. A child with a disability is not removed from education in age-appropriate regular classrooms or daytime settings solely because of needed modifications in the curriculum. Unless the IEP requires another arrangement, your child will attend the public school he or she would attend if not disabled.

When making the placement decision, the IEP team should consider whether or not education in the regular classroom with the use of supplementary aids and services can be achieved satisfactorily and if not, whether integration with nondisabled peers has been achieved to the maximum extent appropriate. To make these decisions the IEP team should consider:

• The curriculum and goals of the regular education program
• The other efforts that have been made to accommodate or modify the regular education program to meet your child's needs.
• The potential positive effects your child may experience from regular education related to cognitive, academic, physical, social, or other areas of development
• The potential harmful or disruptive effects for your child or other children in the regular classroom environment
• The need for alternative instruction that cannot be achieved in the regular class
• When your child receives special education services for the first time, the school will need your written consent for placement. You will receive a "Notice of Consent for Initial Placement." It must include the following:
• A description of the proposed placement and why it is considered appropriate for your child
• The other placement options considered and the reasons why they were not selected; for example, a self-contained program may require more time in special education than your child needs
• The information that was used to make the placement decision (all the evaluation information)
• A description of other relevant factors, if any
• A statement that you, as a parent, have protection under procedural safeguards, where you can obtain a copy, and who you can contact to assist you in understanding these safeguards

Questions you may want to ask during the IEP conference

• What do the tests and observations show about my child?
• What are my child's strengths?
• Are the evaluation results the same or different from what the teacher observes about my child?
• In which classes will my child be with students without disabilities?
• What goals are realistic for my child?
• How do these goals lead to my child's long-range plans (adult living and work)?
• How much time is required to meet the goals and objectives that we have developed?
• Where will my child best be served?
• How will my child's progress be checked and reported to me?
• Is there a need for supplemental aids or services?
• Are there ways we can help with our child's educational program at home?
• Is my child ready to participate in the development of the IEP?
• Does my child need a positive behavioral support plan?
• Does my child need assistive technology?
• Can my child's needs be met in his current daytime setting(s) (for preschool children)?

Remember, goals may not always be reached. During the year, you or your child's teacher(s) may realize the goals that were developed in the IEP meeting are not appropriate, have already been achieved, or that your child is not benefiting from the current services. If this occurs, your child's program may need to be changed. Either you or the district personnel may request that a meeting be held to change your child's IEP. The IEP must be reviewed or revised at least once a year, but may be reviewed or revised more often if necessary.

Disagreement with the services developed during the IEP meeting may be discussed at the meeting or it may be resolved by requesting another IEP meeting to discuss the issue.(If it is not possible to resolve the difference during the first or later IEP meetings, you may seek mediation or due process as discussed later in this guide.)

Do I have the right to see my child's school records?

The school district is required to keep copies of certain documents and reports pertaining to the identification, evaluation, placement, and special education services of a child with a disability. These records are confidential. Only school district personnel who need the information to provide educational services for your child may use them. Those reviewing the files must sign that they have done so. With few exceptions specified in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the school district must receive your written permission to share your child's records with any other person or agency. As a parent, you have the right to review your child's records. If you disagree with any of the information included in your child's records, you may request that it be changed. If the district disagrees, you have the opportunity to challenge the school district's decision. It is important for you to view your child's records and make sure the information contained in them is accurate.

You may request a full description of the rights you have under FERPA, including who may access your child's records without your consent, from the school district. You will receive a copy of your child's evaluation report and IEP after those meetings. The district must provide the copies within a reasonable period of time, generally 15-20 days. If you wish to view any of your child's other records, contact your school district to make arrangements to view those records. The school must make the arrangements for you within a reasonable period of time but cannot exceed 45 days.

Your rights under IDEA

Children with disabilities and their parents are guaranteed certain basic rights by state and federal laws (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act are the most commonly referred to laws.) This guide is based on the special education process set forth in the IDEA and Missouri regulations.

1. All children with disabilities must be provided a free and appropriate public education.

2. The special education services for each identified, eligible child with a disability should be designed to meet the child's unique needs, and the parents cannot be required to pay for those special education services. Usual fees such as lunch, locker fees, etc., assessed to all students may be charged to students in special education programs.

3. The school program for a child with a disability must be based on a complete and nondiscriminatory evaluation of the child.

4. Parents must give signed permission for their child to be tested.

5. Parents must give their written permission for their child to receive special education services for the first time.

6. Parents have the right to participate in decisions about the identification, eligibility, free appropriate public education and placement of their child with a disability.

7. Parents must be notified in writing of any proposed change in their child's IEP before it occurs.

8. Parents must be told how they can challenge and appeal any decisions or proposed actions concerning identification, evaluation, free appropriate public education, or placement of their child.

Since July 1, 2005, IDEA and state regulations implementing IDEA, only requires the provision of procedural safeguards statement to be given to the parent one time per school year. In addition to the once a year requirement, they must be given to a parent:

• Upon initial referral for evaluation;
• On the date the decision is made to make a removal that constitutes a disciplinary change of placement;
• Upon parental request for an additional copy;
• And, upon the first occurrence of the filing of a due process hearing request or child complaint, at which time the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) provides the procedural safeguards statement.

Procedural Safeguards may be found online
 

PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has developed a Parents' Bill of Rights (162.850 RSMO). LEAs must provide the Bill of Rights to parents when: a child is determined eligible for special education services or,when an initial Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed and, whenever the Procedural Safeguards Notice is provided to parents.
The Parents' Bill of Rights document is available online
 

THE PARENT'S GUIDE TO SPECIAL EDUCATION
One of the resources the Office of Special Education has to offer is The Parent's Guide to Special Education. The booklet provides parents with information to assist in their participation with the identification process and provision of educational services for children with disabilities.

Rolla Public Schools offers homebound services to students due to medical or other situations that require homebound instruction. An application can be requested through the Special Services Office or your student's counselor's office. Please call Carrie Camenisch at 573-458-0100 with any questions.

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 Rolla School District #31 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 Rolla School District #31 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 Rolla School District #31 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 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 Rolla School District #31 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 Monday through Friday at the Rolla Public Schools Administration Building at 500A Forum Drive, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.

The Rolla 31 School District, as a recipient of federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education and operates a public elementary or secondary education program and/or activity, is required to undertake to identify and locate every qualified person residing in the District who is not receiving a public education; and take appropriate steps to notify disabled persons and their parents or guardians of the District’s duty.

The Rolla 31 School District assures that it will provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each qualified disabled person in the District’s jurisdiction regardless of the nature or severity of the person’s disability. For purposes of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the provision of an appropriate education is the provision of regular or special and related aids and services that (i) are designed to meet individual educational needs of disabled persons as adequately as the needs of nondisabled persons are met and (ii) are based on adherence to procedures that satisfy the requirements of the 504 federal regulations.

The Rolla 31 School District has developed a 504/Title II Procedures Manual for the implementation of federal regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Subpart D. This Procedures Manual may be reviewed by contacting the Rolla Special Services Department at 573 458-0100.

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.

Below are links to RPS Procedural Safeguards and Section 504 Student Access from DESE.

ROLLA 31 SCHOOL DISTRICT’S
SECTION 504 PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS
PARENT/GUARDIAN AND STUDENT RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 504:

1.Parents/Guardians and students have the right to be informed by the School District of their rights under Section 504. The purpose of these Procedural Safeguards it to advise you of those rights.
2. A student with a 504 disability has the right to a free, appropriate public education. An appropriate education is defined as the provision of regular or special education and related aids and services that are designed to meet the individual educational needs of the disabled person as adequately as the needs of nondisabled persons are met and based upon adherence to 504 regulatory procedures.
3. The provision of a free education is the provision of educational and related services without cost to the disabled person or to his or her parents or guardian, except for those fees that are imposed on nondisabled persons or their parents or guardians. Funds available from any public or private agency may be used to meet this requirement. Under the law, insurers and other third parties are not relieved from an otherwise valid obligation to provide or pay for services for a disabled student.
4. A child with a disability has the right to take part in, and receive benefits from, public education programs without discrimination because of his/her disability.
5. The parent(s)/guardian of a child with a disability have the right to receive notice with respect to the identification, evaluation, or placement of the child.
6. A student with a disability has the right to receive services and be educated in facilities that are comparable to those provided to nondisabled students.
7. A student with a disability has the right to have evaluation, education, and placement decisions made based on a variety of information sources, and by persons who know the student and are knowledgeable about the evaluation data and placement options. The student also has the right to be periodically reevaluated.
8. A student with a disability has an equal opportunity to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities offered by the District.
9 . A student with a disability has the right to have transportation provided to and from an alternative placement setting (ifthe setting is in a program not operated by the District) at no greater cost to the parent/guardian than would be incurred if the student were placed in a program operated by the District.
10. The parents/guardians of a student with a disability or an eligible student (over the age of 18) have the right to examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding the student’s identification, evaluation, and placement.
11. The parents/guardian of a student with a disability or an eligible student and/or the District have the right to request animpartial due process hearing relating to decisions or actions relating to the student’s identification, evaluation, program or placement and the parents or guardian have the right to be represented by counsel in such hearings. The parents or guardians or eligible student and/or the District also have the right to a review procedure involving such hearings.
12. The parents/guardians of a student with a disability or an eligible student have the right to file a local grievance with the District for issues unrelated to the identification, evaluation, program, or placement of the student. Board policy AC: Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation describes the procedures for filing a grievance and can be requested by contacting the Rolla 31 Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources & Support Services or the Special Services Director at 573 458-0100.
13. Persons who believe that the District is discriminating against eligible persons on the basis of disability may also file complaints with the District’s Section 504 Coordinator and/or the Office for Civil Rights. The address for the Kansas City office of OCR is: OCR, U.S. Department of Education, 601 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri 64106. The Kansas City office’s jurisdiction extends to the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Oklahoma. For a list of other regional offices and their coverage area, see www.ed.gov.

The District’s Section 504 Coordinator is the Special Services Director, who may be reached at 573-458-0100.