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SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES MANUAL

Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Definitions and Explanations of Common Terms Used in Manual ........................................................ 7 Chapter 1: Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) ......................................................................... 15

Chapter 2: Child Find and Referral Process .................................................................................. 17 Child Find Responsibilities ............................................................................................................ 17 Locating Students .......................................................................................................................... 17

Identification of Children Ages Birth to Three Years Old .................................................. 17 General Education Interventions.................................................................................................... 18 Referral to Determine Eligibility for Special education and Related Services ............................... 18

Referral Process .............................................................................................................. 19 Notification of Referral and Initial PPT Meeting ............................................................................. 20

Notice of PPT Meeting ..................................................................................................... 20 Special Rules for the Initial Evaluation of a Ward of the State ........................................ 20 Surrogate Parents ......................................................................................................................... 20 Late Referral to the Birth to Three System ................................................................................... 21 Transition to Special education Service from Birth to Three System (Transition from IDEA 2004 Part C to IDEA 2004 Part B .......................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 2 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 23 Chapter 3: Planning and Placement Team (PPT) Members and Process ........................................... 25 Planning and Placement Team (PPT) ........................................................................................... 25 PPT Membership Requirements....................................................................................... 25 Additional Membership Requirements .......................................................................................... 26 PPT Membership for Out-of-District Placements .......................................................................... 26 PPT Membership for Secondary Transition Services .................................................................... 26 PPT Membership for Birth to Three Referrals................................................................................ 26 PPT Membership for Charter School Students ................................................................ 26 PPT Membership for Magnet School Students.............................................................................. 26 PPT Attendance and Excusal from Attendance............................................................................. 26 Notice of Meeting and Change in PPT Membership......................................................... 27 Chapter 3 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 4: Evaluation and Eligibility....................................................................................................... 29 Purpose of an Evaluation ............................................................................................................... 29 Role of the Planning and Placement Team (PPT)......................................................................... 29 Initial Evaluation ............................................................................................................................ 29 Timeline for Initial Evaluations ...................................................................................................... 30 Connecticut Timeline for Eligibility Determination and IEP Implementation .................................. 30 Timeline for Birth to Three Referrals and Children Who Turn Age Three in Summer ..... 30 Mutual Agreement to Extend Evaluation Timeline for Determining Special education Eligibility for a Student with a Specific Learning Disability................................................ 30 Determining Eligibility..................................................................................................................... 31 Reevaluation .................................................................................................................................. 32 Students Transferring into the District ........................................................................................... 32 Trial Placement for Diagnostic Purposes ...................................................................................... 32 Chapter 4 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 34 Chapter 5: Individualized Education Program (IEP) .............................................................................. 35 General Information ...................................................................................................................... 35 IEP Components ............................................................................................................................ 35 Transportation ................................................................................................................................ 36 Travel Time ................................................................................................................................... 37 Operators of Vehicles .................................................................................................................... 37

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SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES MANUAL

Vehicles.......................................................................................................................................... 37 Transportation Aides ........................................................................................................ 37

Transportation Provided by Parents .............................................................................................. 37 Assistive Technology (AT) ............................................................................................................ 37 Accessible educational Materials (AEM)........................................................................................ 38 Student Data Privacy .................................................................................................................... 38 Language and Communication Plan (LCP) .................................................................................. 39 Extended School Year (ESY) Services ......................................................................................... 39 Agreement to Change an IEP Without Convening a PPT Meeting .............................................. 40 Chapter 5 Appendix ...................................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 6: Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and Placement ...................................................... 43 General Information ...................................................................................................................... 43 Continuum of Alternative Placements............................................................................................ 43 Determining Placement.................................................................................................................. 43 Placement in Private Special Education Programs ...................................................................... 44 Calculating Time with Nondisabled Peers (TWNDP) in Elementary and Secondary Education Settings .......................................................................................................................................... 44 Calculating Time with Nondisabled Peers (TWNDP) in Work-Based Learning Experiences/Community-Based Settings ...................................................................................... 45 Chapter 6 Appendix ....................................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 7: Students Unable to Attend School for Medical Reasons................................................... 47 Students who are Pregnant or Have Given Birth ........................................................................... 48 Students with Disabilities Who Are Medically Complex ................................................................ 48 Chapter 7 Appendix ...................................................................................................................... 49 Chapter 8: Legal Notices .......................................................................................................................... 51 Notices and Publications ............................................................................................................... 51 Procedural Safeguards Notice ...................................................................................................... 51 A Parent's Guide to Special Education in Connecticut ................................................................. 51

The IEP Manual and Forms ............................................................................................. 51 Building a Bridge: A Transition Manual for Students ..................................................................... 51 Transition Bill of Rights .................................................................................................................. 51

Parental Notification/Laws Relating to the Use of Seclusion and Restraint ..................... 52 Parental Notification Following the Emergency Use of Restraint or Seclusion ............... 52 FERPA Annual Notification of Rights ............................................................................................. 52 Chapter 8 Appendix ...................................................................................................................... 53 Chapter 9: Students Parentally-Placed in Private Schools .................................................................. 55 General Information ...................................................................................................................... 55 Equitable Services and Service Plans ........................................................................................... 55 Consultation with Representatives of Private School Students .................................................... 56 Transportation ................................................................................................................................ 56 Use of Funding ............................................................................................................................... 57 Equipment and Supplies ................................................................................................................ 57 Chapter 9 Appendix ...................................................................................................................... 58 Chapter 10: Discipline .............................................................................................................................. 59 General Information ...................................................................................................................... 59 Types of Disciplinary Actions ........................................................................................................ 59 In-School Suspension (ISS) ........................................................................................................... 59 Disciplinary Procedures for Special Education Students .............................................................. 59 Disciplinary Removals Resulting in a Change in Placement ......................................................... 60 Manifestation Determination .......................................................................................................... 60 Special Circumstances .................................................................................................................. 61 Exclusion from Bus Transportation ................................................................................................ 61

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SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES MANUAL

Expedited Due Process Hearing .................................................................................................... 62 Hearing Officer's Authority to Order an Interim Alternative Educational Setting (IAES) .. 62

Expedited Due Process Hearing .................................................................................................... 62 Protection for Students Not Yet Eligible for Special education ..................................................... 62 Chapter 10 Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 64 Chapter 11: Discontinuation of Special Education and Related Services ......................................... 65 Student No Longer Meets Eligibility Criteria ................................................................................. 65 Graduation from High School with a Regular Diploma .................................................................. 65 Student Exceeds Age Eligibility .................................................................................................... 65 Chapter 11 Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 66 Chapter 12: Special Education and Related Services ........................................................................... 67 Consultation Time .......................................................................................................................... 67 Personnel Development/Professional Learning ............................................................................ 67 Paraeducators/Instructional Assistants.......................................................................................... 67 Services Contracted Through a Separate Agency ........................................................................ 67 Chapter 12 Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 68 Chapter 13: Procedural Safeguards and Confidentiality ...................................................................... 69 Prior Written Notice (PWN) ............................................................................................................ 69 Timelines ........................................................................................................................................ 69 Content of Notice .......................................................................................................................... 69 Notice in Understandable Language ............................................................................................. 70 Informed Parental Consent ........................................................................................................... 70

Consent to Conduct an Initial Evaluation ......................................................................... 70 Special Rules for the Initial Evaluation for Wards of the State ...................................................... 71 Consent to Conduct a Reevaluation ............................................................................................. 71 Consent for the Initial Provision of Special education Services..................................................... 71 Dispute Resolution Options When Parent Refuses Consent......................................................... 72 Revoking Consent ......................................................................................................................... 72 Confidentiality and Student Records.............................................................................................. 72

Access to Education Records ........................................................................................... 72 Record of Access .............................................................................................................. 73 Records of More than One Child ................................................................................................... 73 List of Types and Locations of Information .................................................................................... 73 Amendment of Records at Parent Request ................................................................................... 73 Parents' Opportunity for a Hearing .................................................................................. 73 Hearing Result .............................................................................................................................. 73 Consent for Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) ............................................... 74 Destruction of Information ................................................................................................. 74 Dispute Resolution Options Available Pursuant to the IDEA......................................................... 74 State Complaints............................................................................................................................ 74 Due Process Hearing ..................................................................................................................... 74 Resolution Process ........................................................................................................................ 74 Mediation .......................................................................................................................... 75 Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at Public Expense ...................................................... 75 Referral to and Action by Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities ........................................... 76 Transmittal of Records ................................................................................................................... 76 Other Safeguards ........................................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 13 Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 77 Chapter 14: Gifted and Talented Students ............................................................................................. 79 Identification of Children Who Are Gifted and Talented................................................................. 79 Procedures for Identification of Students who are Gifted and Talented ........................................ 79 PPT Membership for Gifted and Talented ..................................................................................... 80

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SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES MANUAL Chapter 14 Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 81

The Connecticut State Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons. The Connecticut Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis of age, ancestry, color, criminal record (in state employment or licensing), gender identity or expression, genetic information, intellectual disability, learning disability, marital status, mental disability (past or present), national origin, physical disability (including blindness), race, religious creed, retaliation for previously opposed discrimination or coercion, sex (pregnancy or sexual harassment), sexual orientation, veteran status or workplace hazards to reproductive systems, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification excluding persons in any of the aforementioned protected classes. Inquiries regarding the Department of Education's nondiscrimination policies should be directed to the Affirmative Action Administrator, State of Connecticut Department of Education, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut 06106, (860) 713-6530.

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SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES MANUAL

Introduction

All school districts throughout Connecticut should have a shared understanding of the statutory and regulatory requirements for the provision of special education and related services to eligible students. This manual has been developed as a resource for all educational stakeholders to assist in fostering that shared understanding and to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. While the use of this manual, in whole or in part, is not required, the content has been designed to inform and guide users in fulfilling the requirements of both state and federal special education statutes and implementing regulations. Connecticut school districts are encouraged to use this manual as a template for their own procedures and practices manual. School district staff should use this manual in conjunction with the Procedural Safeguards Notice, IEP Manual and Forms publication, Bureau of Special Education publications, special education statutes and regulations as well as guidance from state and federal authorities. School districts should adapt this manual to align with local procedures, which may include specific staff names and roles and links to district specific documents or websites. School districts will need to update the manual, as needed, to remain current with federal and state special education statutes and implementing regulations. Use of this manual does not guarantee compliance with the complex statutory and regulatory requirements related to the provision of special education services. All districts should consult with their legal counsel if any question or issue arises in the interpretation of or delivery of services related to those requirements

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