It is the policy of the Board of Education to provide a free and appropriate education for students
with disabilities, including those who are in need of special education and related services.
General
Any individual who knows or believes that a student has a disability and is in need of
accommodation should contact the school’s principal or district administration immediately.
All complaints regarding discrimination will be resolved in accordance with policy AC. Anyone
who has a complaint or suspects discrimination should contact the compliance officer identified in
policy AC.
The district will notify all parents and students of its obligations under this policy and the law.
Unless the parents of the child have initially consented in writing to the district's offer to provide
special education and related services, the district cannot, and will have no obligation to, provide
special education services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and
the child will not receive the protections of the IDEA.
Students Eligible for Special Education Services under the IDEA
The district's programs and services available to meet the needs of students with disabilities will be
in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing special education services, including
the State and Local Plans for the implementation of Part B of the IDEA. However, if the State of
Missouri does not receive or accept federal IDEA Part B funds, nothing in this policy shall be read
to require anything, procedurally or substantively, that is not required by the governing law.
Students Placed in Private Schools by Their Parents
In general, the Salem R-80 School District has no obligation to provide a free, appropriate public
education (FAPE) or special education and related services to any student enrolled in a private school
by his or her parents. The district will expend a proportionate amount of its IDEA Part B funds on
the group of privately placed students as a whole, as required by law.
Parents of a student previously enrolled in the district who choose to unilaterally place the student
in a private school without district consent due to a dispute regarding FAPE will not be reimbursed
for tuition costs except as required by law.
Evaluation and Identification
The special education director will develop and implement procedures governing the evaluation of
students to determine their eligibility for special education services in accordance with the law and
state and local plans. Further, the Board authorizes the special education director to use a
discrepancy model, including the use of professional judgment or a response to intervention (RTI)
model, for identifying students with specific learning disabilities (SLD).
Independent Evaluations
An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) will be provided as required by the IDEA. Applicable
procedures, evaluator criteria and cost guidelines governing the IEE process are available through
the district's special services office. The Board delegates the authority to make changes to these
procedures, evaluator criteria and cost guidelines to the superintendent or designee. These items will
adhere to rules published in the State and Local Plans for Compliance with Part B of the IDEA.
Extended School Year
Extended school year (ESY) services may be necessary to provide a child with a disability a free and
appropriate public education pursuant to law. The individualized education program (IEP) team will
consider ESY services for all special education students eligible for services under the IDEA, but
ESY services will only be provided if the student is found eligible in accordance with this policy.
A student will be eligible for ESY services if, based on the available data, the student needs services
beyond the regular school day/term to avoid regression that will interfere with the student's ability
to continue to progress in the curriculum. This determination will be based on consideration of the
following:
1. The nature and severity of the student's disability.
2. The areas of learning crucial to the child's attainment of self-sufficiency and independence.
3. The student's progress.
4. The student's behavioral and physical needs.
5. Opportunities the student will have to practice skills outside of the classroom setting without
ESY services.
6. Availability of alternative resources.
7. Areas of curriculum that need continuous attention.
8. Ability of the student's parents to provide educational structure.
9. Particular curricular or vocational needs of the student.
The length, nature and type of ESY services will be determined by the IEP team and addressed in
each student's IEP. If at the time the IEP is developed it is unreasonable to predict eligibility for
ESY services, the IEP team will meet after sufficient time has passed for the team to make an
informed decision about ESY services, but not later than six (6) weeks prior to the end of the regular
school term.
Mediation
The Board of Education authorizes the special education director to legally bind the school district
to a mediation agreement developed in accordance with the IDEA and Missouri law and further
authorizes the special education director to contact an attorney for legal advice prior to making any
decisions. In the absence of the special education director, the Assistant Superintendent is
authorized to perform his or her duties under this section.
Resolution
The Board of Education designates the special education director to represent the school district in
resolution meetings and gives the special education director decision-making authority on behalf of
the district. The special education director has the authority to sign and legally bind the district to
a settlement agreement reached at the resolution meeting. In the absence of the special education
director, the Assistant Superintendent is authorized to perform his or her duties under this section.
All other settlement agreements must be approved by the Board.
Children Three (3) to Five (5) Years of Age
When identifying children three (3) to five (5) years of age who qualify for special education but are
not yet eligible for kindergarten, the district will use any of the disability categories, including that
of Young Child with a Developmental Delay (YCDD). When a child so identified reaches
kindergarten age, his or her eligibility will continue to be determined using any of the disability
categories, including that of YCDD. A child who is not identified as eligible for special education
services prior to reaching kindergarten age will be identified using disability categories excluding
that of YCDD.
Accommodation of Students with Disabilities Including Those Not Eligible for Special
Education Services under the IDEA
The district seeks to identify, evaluate and provide free and appropriate educational services in the
least restrictive environment to all qualified students with disabilities within the definitions of
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). No
qualified student with a disability shall, on the basis of disability, be excluded from participation in,
be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any district program,
including nonacademic services and extracurricular activities.
Students with disabilities may be eligible for accommodation under this policy even though they are
not eligible for services pursuant to the IDEA. The district will initiate a referral if a student
requiring accommodation is also believed to be a student with a disability under the IDEA.
Implementation of an IEP in accordance with the IDEA satisfies the district's obligation to provide
a free and appropriate education under Section 504.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for
related information.
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Adopted: 11/17/1994
Last Revised: 02/24/2011
Cross Refs: AC, Prohibition Against Illegal Discrimination and Harassment
EHBC, Privacy Protection
JECC, Assignment of Students to Grade Levels/Classes
JGE, Discipline of Students with Disabilities
JHCF, Student Allergy Prevention and Response
JHDA, Surveying, Analyzing or Evaluating Students
JO, Student Records
KKB, Audio and Visual Recording
MSIP Refs: 7.1
Legal Refs: §§ 161.850, 162.670 - .999, RSMo.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 - 1417
34 C.F.R. Part 300
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, 29 U.S.C. § 794
34 C.F.R. Part 104
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 - 12213
Yaris v. Special Sch. Dist., 728 F.2d 1055 (8th Cir. 1984)
Salem R-80 School District, Salem, Missouri
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