SPECIAL EDUCATION is instruction that is specially designed to
meet the unique needs and abilities of a student with
disabilities. It must be provided at no cost to the student or
parent.
Every eligible student who has a disability and is in need of
special education and related services has the basic right, guaranteed by state
and federal law, to a free and appropriate public education designed to meet his
or her unique education needs. Services are mandated for all eligible
students aged 3 through 21.
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
INCLUDE:
..Classroom and itinerant instruction
..Physical education
instruction
..Home instruction
..Hospital and institutional instruction
and instruction
in other settings
..Communication Disorders
Services
..Physical and Occupational Therapy
..Orientation and mobility
instruction
..Behavioral intervention
..Audiological
Services
..Specially Designed Career Development
..Vocational
Education
Under Special Related Services means transportation and
developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to
assist a student to benefit from special education.
RELATED SERVICES
INCLUDE:
..Communication disorders services and audiology
..Physical
and Occupational Therapy
..Recreation (including therapeutic
recreation)
..Early identification and assessment of disabilities in
students
..Counseling Services, including Rehabilitation
Counseling
..Medical services for diagnostic or assessment
purposes
..Orientation and Mobility Services
..School Health
Services
..Social Work services in school
..Parent Counseling and
Training
..Classified Staff Services
CHILDREN ENROLLED IN PRIVATED
SCHOOLS BY THEIR PARENTS:
Some children with disabilities are enrolled in
private schools by their parents. School districts are not required
to pay for the cost of education, including special education and related
services, of a child with a disability at a private school or facility if the
school district made a free appropriate public education available to the child
and the parents chose, instead, to place the child in a private school, or
facility. However, the school district will include that child in the
group of students who may participate as described in "Limitation on
Services."
LIMITATION ON SERVICES
Children who enrolled by their
parents in private schools may participate in publicly funded special education
and related services. Federal law limits the amount that school
districts must spend for these services.
Federal law permits special
education and related services to provide at the private school to the extent
consistent with state law. Washington law prohibits the provision of
services, materials, or equipment of any nature to or on the sites of any
private school or agency subject to religious control.
Disagreements
between a parent and the school district about the availability of any
appropriate program and the question of who pays for it may be settled in a due
process hearing.