CHILD FIND NOTICE: CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
The Bedford School District provides special educa- tion, related services and accommodations to eligible children with disabilities who reside within the district. The district has a duty to identify, locate, and provide notice of its responsibilities to every qualified disabled child in its jurisdiction, including those who are not re- ceiving a public education.
If a child living within the boundaries of the school dis- trict, ages 0 through 21, is or is suspected of being dis- abled, the parent/guardian is encouraged to contact one of the individuals listed below.
The district will work with parents/guardians to evaluate the child, determine if he/she qualifies for special edu- cation or related services under the Individuals with Dis- abilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Re- habilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and provide a free, appropriate public education to the children to the ex- tent he/she is eligible under these laws. Upon referral, the district will provide parents/guardians with notice of procedural safeguards under the applicable law(s).
The Bedford School District is responsible for Child Find to eligible children attending private schools within the boundaries of the district, regardless of where the child resides. The district conducts Child Find activities that ensure equitable participation of private school stu- dents with disabilities and an accurate count of them. All Child Find activities conducted for children enrolled in private schools by their parents are similar to those ac- tivities conducted for children who attend public schools in the district. [IDEA 2004 612(s)(10)(A)(i)(II)]
Since the State of New Hampshire does not recognize parent-provided home schooling as a private school, federal and state regulations do not apply. In situations where parents have provided notification of intent to provide home instruction, as permitted under RSA 193- A, a school district’s responsibility is limited to Child Find. Annual notification must be provided to inform parents providing home schooling that Child Find serv- ices are available, should parents wish to access them. IDEA: Kathleen Conlin, Director of Special Services, Bedford School District, 103 County Road, Bedford, NH 03110, (603) 472-3755. Section 504 and ADA: Chief Financial Officer, Bed- ford School District, 103 County Road, Bedford, NH 03110 (603) 472-3755.
GUIDELINES FOR PUPIL REFERRAL Each Bedford school has established a Referral Review Team (R.R.T.) for the purpose of reviewing pupil refer- rals. This multi-discipline team convenes on a weekly basis to accept pupil referrals from parents/guardians, teachers, specialists, community agencies or appropri-
ate private providers.
It is the responsibility of this team to determine in each case whether the students fall within the guidelines of the state and federal laws regarding education of edu- cationally disabled children and insure that appropriate procedures are followed in notifying parents/guardians. The team will insure that each identified educationally disabled student be educated with their non-handi- capped peers to the maximum extent possible and ap- propriate through the use of supplemental aides and/or services.
Every educationally disabled child shall attend an ap- proved school or program to which he/she may be as- signed. School District liability for tuition and transporta- tion will start after the District team has approved the as- signment. Any liability for tuition and/or transportation prior to District assignment will not be the responsibility of the District.
Students who do not appear to be eligible for consid- eration under laws governing educationally disabled children will be considered on an individual basis and concerns will be addressed at the lowest practical level between teacher, specialist, or building administrator and parents/guardians.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS As a parent/guardian of a student in the Bedford School District, you have the right to know the profes- sional qualifications of the classroom teachers who in- struct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for cer- tain information about your child’s classroom teachers, and requires the district to give you this information in a timely manner if you ask for it. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers: • Whether the State of New Hampshire Depart- ment of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
• Whether the State of New Hampshire Depart- ment of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances.
• The teacher’s college major and whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degrees.
• Whether any paraprofessionals provide serv- ices to your child and, if they do, their qualifica- tions.
If you would like to receive any of the above informa- tion, please contact the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 472-3755.
22
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23