There are new Federal and State requirements regarding special education services for children in nonpublic schools. These changes are the result of changes to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which now requires all states to insure that the school district where the nonpublic school is located will now be responsible for special education services for your child, including individual evaluations, CSE meetings and development of an Individualized Education Services Program (IESP). An IESP must be developed in the same manner and with the same contents as an IEP. It is called an IESP to distinguish it from the IEP that would be developed if you were to reenroll your child in the public school district where you live. The following information is important for you to know:
- If you place your child in a nonpublic school and wish your child to receive special education services while enrolled in that school, you must request those services in writing no later than June 1st before the school year in which services are to be provided. This year you have until August 18, 2007 to provide this written request to the school district where the nonpublic school is located. If you had requested services from the school district where you reside, with your consent, your written request to the school district will be forwarded to the school district where the nonpublic school is located.
- If you have placed your child in a nonpublic school and, while the child is enrolled in that school, you suspect that your child has a disability and you wish to have your child evaluated to determine if special education services are needed, you must contact the school district where the nonpublic school is located to request an evaluation to determine your child's eligibility for special education services.
- The school district where you reside and the school district where the nonpublic school is located must have your written consent in order for the districts to share special education information with one another.
- If the nonpublic school where you place your child is located within the geographic boundaries of your public school district, that same school district will continue to provide requested special education services to your child, pursuant to an IESP.
- If your child had an IEP developed at an annual review meeting prior to June 30, 2007 by the CSE of the school district where you reside, with your written consent, the IEP will be shared with the district where the nonpublic school is located. That IEP will become the IESP, unless the school district where the nonpublic school is located develops a new IESP for your child.
- If the nonpublic school where you place your child is located within the geographic boundaries of another public school district, the public school district in which the nonpublic school is located will arrange for and provide the recommended services for your child. The school district must consult with nonpublic school representatives and parent representatives about how and where special education services will be provided.
- Transportation requests to and from your child's home to the nonpublic school should continue to be submitted to the school district where you legally reside by April 1 of the school year before transportation is to be provided.
- If you have a dispute regarding special education evaluations or services provided for your child, you should pursue resolution of these disputes with the school district that conducted the evaluation or developed the IESP.
Copies of the formal bulletin from the State Education Department can be obtained at the front office.