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Placement Decisions andLeast Restrictive Environment
Special Education Laws Made Simple
November 2013 – Austin, Texas National Business Institute
Presented bySarah S. Flournoy, J.D., Ed.D.
Of Counsel, West & Associates, LLP
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FAPE
• Free and Appropriate Public Education• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act– Qualify for federal funds– Constitutional right
• Not the same education for all students• Definition intentionally flexible and broad
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LRE, Mainstreaming and Inclusion
• With nondisabled peers to maximum extent• Deviation if “nature or severity” of disability
prevent education in general classroom• Preference referred to as mainstreaming or
inclusion
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Continuum of Alternative Placements
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Placement Decision Requirements
• Part of IEP• Determined by ARD Committee• Start at left and work to the right as necessary• Little different for visually and auditory
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Factors That Can and Cannot be Considered
• Consider– Potential harmful effect – Quality of services– Impact on attainment of goals
• Not Consider– Necessity of modifying general curriculum– Disability (as opposed to impact of disability)
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Predetermining Placement
• Do not do!• Usurps ARD committee• Not individualized• Parents prevented from participating
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Private Schools
• Two scenarios– Parents voluntarily place there– LEA cannot provide services necessary to ensure
FAPE• LEA responsible for– Locating– Providing services to– tracking
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Private Schools
• Two Part Test1. School district’s placement pursuant to IEP
inappropriate; and,2. Private placement desired by parents
appropriate.• LEA FAPE does not need to exceed private
school to be adequate
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Change in PlacementProcedures
• By ARD committee as part of IEP• Parents may request ARD mtg to discuss• 10 or more cumulative days• TEA Methods to Resolve Disputes– TEA Investigation– Mediation– Due Process Hearing
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Change in PlacementReview of Placement Decisions
& “Stay-Put”
• Reviewed – At least annually– Disciplinary issues may force earlier review
• Student “stay-put” while placement is being reviewed• Gave rise to dangerousness exclusion– SC in 1988
• No such exclusion where manifestation of disability• 10 day cooling off period okay
– 1997 Amendments to IDEA• Only 3 reasons why student can be unilaterally moved
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Questions?
Sarah S. Flournoy, J.D., Ed.D.Of Counsel, West & Associates, LLP320 South R. L. Thornton Frwy, Suite 300Dallas, Texas [email protected]