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What special education services will be
available to eligible private school students for the 2006-2007 school year?
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Speech-language therapy up to one hour per
week. Qualified employees of the school district will provide therapy.
Therapy will be provided at school district facilities throughout the
county. Services will be provided after public school hours. Transportation
will be offered, with some limitations.
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Consultation to private school teachers
and parents of eligible students for up to one hour a month. Students with
any disability may be eligible, including: autistic, deaf/hard of hearing,
developmentally delayed, mentally handicapped, emotionally handicapped,
orthopedically impaired, traumatic brain injured, other health impaired,
specific learning disability, and visually impaired. Qualified employees of
the school district will provide consultation at the private school
location.
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Will consultation include instruction is
the classroom?
No. Consultation is the sharing of
information in order to address the student’s needs. A school district
employee will meet face-to-face with your child’s teacher to provide
information that the teacher may use during instruction. Information could
include modifications of teaching techniques, accommodations, and suggested
materials or supplies. Your child’s teacher and private school would be
responsible for making any changes based on the consultation.
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How do I find out if my child is eligible
to receive speech-language therapy or consultation for other needs?
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If your child was evaluated by the school
district in the last three years and determined to be eligible for
speech-language impaired or other disability and had an Individual Education
Plan (IEP), then your child may be eligible.
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If your child was evaluated by the school
district more than three years ago and determined to be eligible for any
disability, then the school district must complete a reevaluation to
determine if your child still needs speech-language therapy or consultation.
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If your child has never been evaluated by
the school district, the school district must complete a comprehensive
evaluation to determine if your child has a disability.
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Who provides the comprehensive evaluation?
The Area ESE office will refer you to a
public school. Qualified staff at the school and other evaluation
specialists from the school district will provide the evaluations at that
school. You will be responsible to bring your child to the school.
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How long will it take for the comprehensive
evaluation to be completed?
Once the school district has gathered
information from you and the private school and determined that a
comprehensive evaluation should be completed, you will be asked to give your
consent in writing. The evaluation will be completed within 60 student
attendance days of the date you return the signed consent to the school.
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If my child is eligible to receive
speech-language therapy or consultation, will the school district develop a new
individual education plan (IEP)?
No. Children in private schools are not
entitled to an IEP. The special education to be provided will be described
on a Service Plan. (See also Question #13)
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Will the Service Plan include the same
special education and related services that were on my child’s IEP when he/she
was in public school?
No. The Service Plan is only required to
include the type and amount of special education that the school district
has decided to provide during the coming year.
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My child has never been evaluated by the
school district or was evaluated by the school district more than three years
ago. Can a private evaluation by a speech-language pathologist or other
qualified evaluator be used to determine eligibility for a Service Plan?
Yes. However, the speech-language
pathologist or other evaluator must meet Department of Education
qualifications and provide a written report that includes the information
needed to determine eligibility. In addition, the school district must
ensure that the evaluation of your child is comprehensive, so your consent
will be required for additional testing.
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Will the Service Plan provide the same
amount of speech-language therapy that was on my child’s IEP or that my child is
receiving privately?
No. The Service Plan will provide up to
one hour of speech-language therapy a week.
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My child, who is learning disabled,
received occupational therapy when he was enrolled in the public schools. Will
occupational therapy services be provided as part of the Service Plan for
consultation?
No. Occupational therapy is a related
service provided to students to benefit from special education instruction.
Consultation is not an instructional service.
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How will the Service Plan be developed?
A meeting (which can be by telephone) will
be scheduled that includes the parents, a teacher from the private school,
and representatives of the school district. The student may be included as
appropriate.
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Will the Service Plan continue from year to
year?
No. Service Plans are reviewed and new
plans are written every year. The school district must spend a proportionate
share of federal funds on services to eligible private school students. The
amount of funds changes every year. It is possible that all the funds could
be spent before the end of the year. If that occurs, all services would end.
From year to year, the school district may decide that different students
are eligible and different services will be provided.
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My child is attending a private school
under the McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities. Is my child
eligible to receive special education services?
Yes. Your child must has been identified
with a disability and demonstrate a need for the services being provided by
the school district.
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My child has been in a private school and
had an IEP and received speech-language therapy at a public school. Can I
continue to receive therapy at the public school?
No. Students in public school have a right
to a free, appropriate, public education and special education and related
services are described on an IEP. Students in private school may be eligible
for a Service Plan. The school district is no longer using dual enrollment
as a way to provide services to private school students. You could enroll
your child full time in his/her boundaried public school to receive an IEP.
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My child has never been evaluated by the
school district. He/she may have a speech-language problem. Can I request just a
speech-language evaluation from the public school?
No. The parent cannot request a specific
evaluation. If you suspect your child may have a disability you and the
private school will be asked to provide public school staff with information
about your child’s school performance. It is the school district’s
responsibility to conduct a comprehensive evaluation including any
assessments that may be needed to determine if and what type of disability
your child may have. While a speech-language evaluation may be one of the
assessments, the school district will not proceed until you give your
consent to complete a comprehensive evaluation, which could include other
assessments.
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My child has never been evaluated by the
school district. He/she is having difficulty in private school. How can I find
out what special education and related services the school district would
provide to my child?
Once you give your consent for a
comprehensive evaluation (see also Question #12), the school district will
meet with you to discuss your child’s evaluation results. If you are not
considering enrollment in a public school, you will be provided with an
evaluation report and a determination of eligibility. If you are considering
enrollment in the public school to receive services the school will develop
an individual education plan (IEP). This IEP is the school district’s
proposal of a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE) for your child. If
you choose, you may withdraw your child from private school and enroll
him/her in the school district to receive the services on the IEP. Your
consent will be required before the school begins providing the special
education and related services described on the IEP. If you reject the
school district’s offer and remain in the private school, your child may
still be eligible for a Service Plan for some special education services.
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How do I request special education services
for my child with a disability in private school?
An application form is available at:
www.broward.k12.fl.us/studentsupport/ese/html/schbyarea.html
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