A Parent’s Advocacy Guide to Special Education - West Virginia

A Parent's Advocacy Guide to Special Education

A Companion Guide to West Virginia Department of Education Policy 2419

Version 2.0

A Parent's Advocacy Guide to Special Education

A COMPANION GUIDE TO WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION POLICY 2419

Developed by

This project was funded by the West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council and West Virginia Advocates through grants provided by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Administration for Community Living of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the U.S. Department of Education.

Dear Parents, Family Members, Educators, and Other Advocates for Students with Disabilities:

The West Virginia Developmental Disabilities Council (WVDDC) and West Virginia Advocates, Inc. (WVA) are excited to make available the Second Edition of A Parent's Advocacy Guide to Special Education to family members, students, educators, and advocates for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This Guide was developed in response to parents' requests to have instruction and materials to help them better understand special education policies and procedures in West Virginia. Parents, teachers and others who have used the Guide have found it to be a useful and valuable tool:

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"It's easy to use and easy to find what information is needed to help my son."

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"The Guide is comprehensive and clearly written. The tip boxes are very helpful."

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"The IEP section is a clear, step-by-step guide that really helped us."

The Guide contains references to the following federal and state regulations and laws:

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA 2004)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

West Virginia Code, Chapter 18 (school laws)

West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Policy 2419, Regulations for the Education of Students with Exceptionalities

WVDE Policy 4373, Expected Behavior in Safe and Supportive Schools

Laws and regulations are always changing! That means that some of the information in this manual may become outdated over time.

In order to make sure you are receiving the most current information, changes and updates to this Guide are provided on our websites and Facebook page:



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?ref=logo#!/wvadvocates

We encourage you to periodically check these sites for changes or if you have concerns that something in your manual may be out of date.

Our intent is that this Guide helps you better understand special education policy, so you can be the best advocate possible for your child, student, or client. We hope you find it helpful!

Table of Contents

How to Use This Guide .......................................................................................................................v Introduction .................................................................................................................................... vii Chapter 1: Eligibility ........................................................................................................................1-1

Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 1-1 Eligibility Criteria.................................................................................................................................... 1-2

Meet State Eligibility Requirements for Specific Exceptionalities..................................................... 1-2 Adverse Effect on Educational Performance..................................................................................... 1-3 Needs Special Education ................................................................................................................... 1-3 Applicable Timelines.............................................................................................................................. 1-4 Students in Private Schools ................................................................................................................... 1-6 Birth to Three Transition Services ......................................................................................................... 1-7 Chapter 1 Reference Materials ............................................................................................................. 1-9 Chapter 2: Evaluations ....................................................................................................................2-1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 2-1 Initial Evaluation .................................................................................................................................... 2-2 Reevaluation ...................................................................................................................................................... 2-3 Additional Evaluation ............................................................................................................................ 2-5 Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) ............................................................................................ 2-5 Privately Obtained Evaluation(s) ........................................................................................................... 2-6 Chapter 2 Reference Materials ............................................................................................................. 2-7 Chapter 3: Individualized Education Program (IEP) ...........................................................................3-1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 3-1 IEP Team Basics ..................................................................................................................................... 3-2 When to Have an IEP Meeting........................................................................................................... 3-2 IEP Meeting Notice ............................................................................................................................ 3-4 Required IEP Team Members ............................................................................................................ 3-5 Role of the Parent at the IEP Meeting............................................................................................... 3-6 Role of the Student at the IEP Meeting............................................................................................. 3-7 Required IEP Team Member Excusals ............................................................................................... 3-8 The IEP Document ................................................................................................................................. 3-9

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Part I: Student Information ............................................................................................................. 3-10 Part II: Documentation of Attendance ........................................................................................... 3-10 Part III: Extended School Year (ESY) Determination ....................................................................... 3-11 Part IV: Consideration of Factors for IEP Development/Annual Reviews ...................................... 3-13 Part V: Assessment Data................................................................................................................. 3-15 Part VI: Transition Planning ............................................................................................................ 3-16 Part VII: Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP).......... 3-19 Part VIII: Annual Goals .................................................................................................................... 3-23 Part IX: Services ............................................................................................................................. 3-25 Part X: Statewide Testing................................................................................................................. 3-34 Part XI: Placement ........................................................................................................................... 3-35 Part XII: Prior Written Notice........................................................................................................... 3-38 Part XIII: Consent ............................................................................................................................. 3-38 IEP Amendments ................................................................................................................................. 3-40 IEPs for Transfer Students ................................................................................................................... 3-41 Guidelines to Obtain Necessary Services for a Student ...................................................................... 3-42 How to Handle Difficult Conversations ............................................................................................... 3-43 Dispute Resolution .............................................................................................................................. 3-44 Chapter 3 Reference Materials ........................................................................................................... 3-47 Chapter 4: Discipline .......................................................................................................................4-1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 4-1 Placement.............................................................................................................................................. 4-2 Disciplinary Removals....................................................................................................................................4-2 Disciplinary Change of Placement ..................................................................................................... 4-4 Behavior Violations Involving Weapons, Illegal Drugs or Serious Bodily Injury .................................... 4-6 Requesting an Expedited Due Process Hearing..................................................................................... 4-7 Discipline and Students Not Receiving Special Education Services....................................................... 4-8 Protections for Students Who Are Not Yet Eligible for Special Education ............................................ 4-8 Basis of Knowledge............................................................................................................................ 4-8 No Basis of Knowledge ...................................................................................................................... 4-9 Use of Restraint ..................................................................................................................................... 4-9 Chapter 4 Reference Materials ......................................................................................................... 14-14

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