(See Overview in the Introduction for more information on the SPP.)
To ensure that all children with disabilities within the school district (LEA) are identified, evaluated and served, whether those services are provided within the local school district, in other districts or agencies, in charter (community) schools or in nonpublic schools.
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Individualized education program (IEP)
General
(A) Each school district shall adopt and implement written policies and procedures approved by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, that ensure an individualized education program (IEP) is developed and implemented for each child with a disability.
(B) The county boards of mental retardation and developmental disabilities (county boards of MR/DD) and other educational agencies shall adopt and implement written policies and procedures approved by the Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children, that ensure services identified in the child’s IEP are provided as agreed upon with the child’s school district of residence.
(C) The child’s school district of residence is responsible for ensuring that the requirements of this rule are met regardless of which school district, county board of MR/DD, or other educational agency implements the child’s IEP. This includes the responsibility for initiating and conducting meetings for the purpose of developing, reviewing, and revising the IEP of a child with a disability.
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(D) Children in other districts or agencies
(1) The child’s school district of residence is responsible for ensuring that an IEP is developed and implemented for each child with a disability residing in the school district. When providing special education services for a child with a disability in another school district, county board of MR/DD or other educational agency, the school district of residence must follow the same procedural safeguards as it does for all children with disabilities and have on file a copy of the current evaluation team report and the IEP.
(2) Each school district will cooperate with other districts, county boards, MR/DD, and with educational agencies that serve children with disabilities in institutions or other care facilities to ensure that these children have access to an education in a regular public school setting, when appropriate, and as specified in the IEP.
For further assistance in determining the responsibilities of each district when serving children with disabilities placed out of district by another entity, refer to Provision of Services for School Age(5-21)Children with Disabilities Placed Out of District, February 11, 2010.
For assistance in determining the district of residence's responsibilities for children who participate in the Autism Scholarship Program, refer to Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) Guidelines, Ohio Department of Education, Office for Exceptional Children.
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(K) When IEPs must be in effect
(1) General
By the child’s 3rd birthday and at the beginning of each subsequent school year, each school district must have in effect, for each child with a disability within its jurisdiction, an IEP, as defined in paragraph (H) of this rule. The IEP shall be implemented as soon as possible following the IEP meeting.
(2) The initial IEP must be developed within whichever of the following time periods is the shortest:
(3) Initial IEPs; provision of services
Each school district must ensure that:
The initial IEP must be developed within whichever of the following time periods is the shortest:
For each child who transitions from Part C Early Intervention Services and qualifies for special education and related services, an IEP must be in effect by the child’s third birthday and at the beginning of each subsequent school year.
IEPs must be in effect at the beginning of the school year for all identified children with disabilities in the district's jurisdiction. Therefore, the district must have a process in place to make sure that any child identified as having a disability who transfers into the district in the summer has an IEP in place when he or she starts the new school in the fall.
The IEP team meeting may be held on one date and the IEP implemented at a later date. However, ODE/OEC strongly recommends against this practice. If the IEP team makes any changes to the IEP and then does not implement the new IEP, the parents could claim that the district did not provide the child FAPE. That is, the district knew the goals, objectives and services were not appropriate for the child at the time of the IEP team meeting, but continued providing inappropriate services rather than implementing the new IEP.
Except for initial IEPs that must be implemented as soon as possible after the development of the IEP, nothing in Ohio's Operating Standards or the IDEA prohibits delaying implementation of a revised IEP.
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(K) When IEPs must be in effect
(5) IEPs for children who transfer school districts in the same state
If a child with a disability (who had an IEP that was in effect in a previous school district in the same state) transfers to a new school district of residence in the same state, and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, the new school district of residence (in consultation with the parents) must provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to the child (including services comparable to those described in the child's IEP from the previous school district of residence), until the new school district of residence either:
In all cases the new district of residence (in consultation with the parents) must provide FAPE to the eligible child with a disability, including services comparable to those described in the child's current IEP, until the current IEP is adopted or a new IEP is developed.
If a child's IEP is not available upon enrolling in a new district of residence, the school district cannot deny the child's enrollment. The child is to be immediately enrolled in the new district and provided with an education until the time the IEP is received from the sending district. If the sending district does not send the IEP or the IEP is out of date, the receiving district must write a new IEP and implement it. This also holds true for evaluations and evaluation team reports (ETRs). If a new IEP or ETR must be completed, this should be done as soon as possible because the child is entitled to FAPE from the day the child enrolls in the district. If appropriate services are not provided in the interim between enrollment and the completion of these documents compensatory education may be required. Therefore, it is in the district's best interest to complete these tasks as quickly as possible.
If the district has concerns about a child's ETR from another district in state, the IEP team should refer the child for additional evaluation. This would constitute a reevaluation and should be completed within a reasonable amount of time to ensure the child receives appropriate services.
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(K) When IEPs must be in effect
(6)IEPs for children who transfer from another state
If a child with a disability (who had an IEP that was in effect in a previous school district in another state) transfers to a new school district of residence in Ohio and enrolls in a new school within the same school year, the new school district of residence (in consultation with the parents) must provide the child with FAPE (including services comparable to those described in the child’s IEP from the previous school district of residence), until the new school district of residence:
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(K) When IEPs must be in effect
(1) General
By the child’s 3rd birthday and at the beginning of each subsequent school year, each school district must have in effect, for each child with a disability within its jurisdiction, an IEP, as defined in paragraph (H) of this rule. The IEP shall be implemented as soon as possible following the IEP meeting.
If a child with a disability who had an IEP in effect in an out-of-state school district transfers to a new school district of residence, the new school district of residence (in consultation with the parents) must provide the child with FAPE (including services comparable to those described in the child’s IEP from the previous school district of residence), until the new school district of residence:
If the district determines that a new evaluation is necessary, this evaluation is considered an initial evaluation and requires parental consent.
If a child with a disability transfers from another state to a school in Ohio and the Ohio school has not received a copy of the child's ETR and IEP, the Ohio school district is not required to provide special education services to the child on the date of enrollment. However, it must serve the child through the regular education program until the child's IEP and ETR are received from the sending district.
The Ohio school district must take reasonable steps to promptly obtain a child’s records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education or related services to the child, from the public school in which the child was previously enrolled. If after taking steps to promptly obtain the records and the Ohio school district is not able to obtain the IEP from the child’s previous school or from the parents, the Ohio school district is not required to provide special education and related services to the child.
If the Ohio school district decides that an evaluation is necessary because it has reason to suspect that the child has a disability and both the school district and the parents agree, the Ohio school district may provide special education and related services to the child while the evaluation is pending . However, if the child receives special education services while the evaluation is pending, the school district must conduct the evaluation, which is considered to be an initial evaluation, within 60 days of receiving parental consent. (Questions and Answers on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Evaluations, and Reevaluations, OSEP, June 2010, Excerpt from Response).
If the Ohio school district conducts an evaluation and determines that the child has a disability and needs special education and related services, the school district must develop and implement an IEP in accordance with the required timelines. See “Timelines” above.
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(K) When IEPs must be in effect
(7) Transmittal of records
To facilitate the transition for a child described in paragraphs (K)(5) and (K)(6) of this rule (child who transfers from a school district in the same state or from out of state):
See Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) 34 C.F.R. 99.31(a)(2) and 99.34.
To ensure the continuity of services for a child with a disability, all school districts in Ohio should develop a process for requesting records from other school districts.
That process must ensure that once a request is received, the records and documentation are promptly sent to the requesting district.
Although districts can withhold transcripts for nonpayment of fees, copies of the IEP, ETR and other special education records cannot be withheld.
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(M) Nonpublic school placements by public school districts
(1) Developing IEPs
(2) Reviewing and revising IEPs
(3) Responsibility
Even if a nonpublic school or facility implements a child’s IEP, responsibility for compliance with this rule remains with the public school district and the Ohio Department of Education.
If the child and parents reside in the same school district and the IEP team develops an IEP that is provided in a nonpublic school:
The district of residence decides whether to allow the nonpublic school or facility to initiate and conduct any meeting to review and revise the child’s IEP. For annual reviews, the nonpublic school or facility of attendance may hold an IEP meeting at the discretion of the district of residence. If an IEP meeting is held, the district providing services shall ensure that:
The nonpublic school or facility is not required to hold the IEP meeting.
If the child and parents do not live in the same district, the district serving the child must have the approval of the district of the parents' residence to refer the child to another school district or agency.
It is the responsibility of the district of residence and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to ensure compliance, even if a nonpublic school or facility implements the child’s IEP.
If a school district places a child with a disability in a nonpublic school or facility, the child’s IEP is still called an IEP. If the parents unilaterally place a child with a disability in a nonpublic school, the child may have a Services Plan and is not entitled to an IEP.
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Parentally placed nonpublic school children
(A) Children’s rights to services
Each school district is required to provide equitable services and participation for eligible children who are attending a chartered or non-chartered nonpublic school located within the district’s geographical boundaries. The school district must have timely and meaningful consultation with the chartered and non-chartered nonpublic school officials to determine if any children attending those nonpublic schools are eligible for equitable services.
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(C) Provision of services for parentally placed nonpublic school children with disabilities: basic requirement
(2) Services plan for parentally placed nonpublic school children with disabilities
In accordance with paragraph (C)(1) and paragraphs (I) to (K)of this rule, a services plan must be developed and implemented for each nonpublic school child with a disability who has been designated by the school district in which the nonpublic school is located to receive special education and related services under this rule.
Each school district is required to provide equitable services and participation for eligible children who are attending chartered or nonchartered nonpublic schools located within the district’s geographical boundaries. No child with a disability in a nonpublic school has an individual right to receive any of the specific special education and related services that the child would receive in a public school. The child is not entitled to FAPE. Decisions about the services nonpublic school children with disabilities will receive are made by the school district after it consults with representatives of the nonpublic school. The district of residence shall give representatives of nonpublic schools an opportunity to express their views in light of the available funding, the number of nonpublic school children with disabilities, the children’s needs and their location, to help decide which children will receive services and what services will be provided. However, the final decisions about the services to be provided belongs to the public school district where the nonpublic school is located. (See Section 9 Parentally-Placed Nonpublic School Children).
Special education services to be provided to a nonpublic school child with disabilities placed by his or her parents must be implemented in accordance with a services plan. A services plan must be individually developed for each child served and must describe the specific special education and related services that the district in which the nonpublic school is located agrees to provide to that child. The services plan is written on the Services Plan form. This form is being developed by ODE/OEC and when available will be included in this document under Ohio Required Forms, posted on the www.EdResourcesOhio.org Web site, and on the ODE Web site at http://education.ohio.gov, keyword search: services plan.
The school district where the nonpublic school is located - whether or not it is the child’s district of residence - is required to conduct the services plan meeting for an eligible child who will receive special education and related services.
The school district determines where services will be provided. With the permission of the nonpublic school, services may be provided on the premises of a nonpublic school to the extent consistent with the law.
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(R)Autism Scholarship program considerations
(1) Children who are participating in the “Autism Scholarship Program” (ASP), established by section 3310.41 of the Revised Code, and attending either a chartered or non-chartered nonpublic school are eligible to participate in the special education IDEA Part B and early childhood special education flow-through benefits if the children meet the eligibility requirements outlined in this rule.
The district of residence is responsible for developing the IEP required for children to participate in the Autism Scholarship Program. The registered private provider provides services according to the IEP and will document the child’s progress and send information about that progress to the district of residence.
Children who are participating in the ASP and attending either a chartered or non-chartered nonpublic school may receive services through a services plan. The services plan for these children must provide special education and related services that are in addition to the services contained in the child's IEP and being paid for by the ASP funds. See Parentally Placed Nonpublic School Children - 9 Guidelines for Providing Services.
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(L) Development, review, and revision of IEP
(4) Children with disabilities in adult prisons
(a) Requirements that do not apply
The following requirements do not apply to children with disabilities who are convicted as adults under state law and incarcerated in adult prisons:
(b) Modification of IEP or placement
See the above Requirements.
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(B)Definitions
(52) "Related services" means transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education and includes speech-language pathology and audiology services; interpreting services; psychological services; physical and occupational therapy; recreation, including therapeutic recreation; early identification and assessment of disabilities in children; counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling; orientation and mobility services; and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes. Related services also include school health services and school nurse services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training.
(a) Exception; services that apply to children with surgically implanted devices, including cochlear implants.
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(B)Definitions
(58)Special education:
For a child to receive only a related service as special education in the state of Ohio, all of the following must apply:
Speech is a disability category.
A child who has a speech disability only is a child with a disability under IDEA. That child is entitled to all the supports and services the child needs to progress in the general education curriculum and to receive FAPE. There is no such thing as a "speech-only" IEP. If a child with only a speech disability needs additional supports and services beyond speech, the IEP team convenes and adds those services to the existing IEP. For example; occupational therapy could be included as a related service on the IEP for a child who has a speech or language impairment.
PROCEDURES FOR MISSED RELATED SERVICES
If a child’s IEP requires the child receive services from a related service provider and the related service provider is absent on the day the services are to be provided, then the services shall be made up at another time. The related service provider may have another service provider provide the child the services. If this is done the related service provider must ensure that the substitute service provider is appropriately licensed and trained to provide the necessary services to the child.
If the related service provider is attending or engaging in some alternative activity during the time the child is to receive related services (e.g., assemblies, IEP meetings, kindergarten screenings), the related service provider shall make up the child’s services at another time. The related service provider may also have another service provider provide the child the services. If this is done the related service provider must ensure that the substitute service provider is appropriately licensed and trained to provide the necessary services to the child.
If the child is absent on the day the child is to receive related services, the related service provider does not have to make up those services.
If the child is attending or engaging in some alternative activity with the class (e.g., assemblies, field trips, grandparent day), the related service provider does not have to make up services. If a school holiday falls on the day the child is to receive related services the related service provider does not have to make up the service. Caution should be exercised, however, to ensure that holidays and class activities do not continually fall on the same day of the week that the child receives services resulting in the child missing many days of service. Too many missed service days may result in the child not receiving a free appropriate public education.