Appendix B to Part 80 - Procedures for Special Educational Programs (Including Related Services) for Preschool Children and Children With Disabilities (3-21 years Inclusive)

Appendix B to Part 80 - Procedures for Special Educational Programs (Including Related Services) for Preschool Children and Children With Disabilities (3-21 years Inclusive)

A. Identification and Screening

1. Each Section 6 School Arrangement shall locate, identify, and, with the consent of a parent of each preschool child or child, evaluate all preschool children or children who are receiving or are entitled to receive an education from Section 6 School Arrangements and who may need special education and/or related services.

2. Each Section 6 School Arrangement shall:

a. Provide screening, through the review of incoming records and the use of basic skills tests in reading, language arts, and mathematics, to determine whether a preschool child or child may be in need of special education and related services.

b. Analyze school health data for those preschool children and children who demonstrate possible disabling conditions. Such data shall include:

(1) Results of formal hearing, vision, speech, and language tests.

(2) Reports from medical practitioners.

(3) Reports from other appropriate professional health personnel as may be necessary, under this part, to aid in identifying possible disabling conditions.

c. Analyze other pertinent information, including suspensions, exclusions, other disciplinary actions, and withdrawals, compiled and maintained by Section 6 School Arrangements that may aid in identifying possible disabling conditions.

3. Each Section 6 School Arrangement, in cooperation with cognizant authorities at the installation on which the Section 6 School Arrangement is located, shall conduct ongoing child-find activities that are designed to identify all infants, toddlers, preschool children, and children with possible disabling conditions who reside on the installation or who otherwise either are entitled, or will be entitled, to receive services under this part.

a. If an element of the Section 6 School Arrangement, a qualified professional authorized to provide related services, a parent, or other individual believes that an infant, toddler, preschool child or child has a possible disabling condition, that individual shall be referred to the appropriate CSC or early intervention coordinator.

b. A Section 6 School Arrangement CSC shall work in cooperation with the Military Departments in identifying infants, toddlers, preschool children and children with disabilities (birth to 21 years inclusive).

B. Evaluation Procedures

1. Each CSC will provide a full and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation of special educational, and related service needs to any preschool child or child who is receiving, or entitled to receive, educational instruction from a Section 6 School Arrangement, operated by the Department of Defense under Directive 1342.21, and who is referred to a CSC for a possible disability. The evaluation will be conducted before any action is taken on the development of the IEP or placement in a special education program.

2. Assessment materials, evaluation procedures, and tests shall be:

a. Racially and culturally nondiscriminatory.

b. Administered in the native language or mode of communication of the preschool child or child unless it clearly is not feasible to do so.

c. Validated for the specific purpose for which they are used or intended to be used.

d. Administered by qualified personnel, such as a special educator, school psychologist, speech therapist, or a reading specialist, in conformity with the instructions provided by the producers of the testing device.

e. Administered in a manner so that no single procedure is the sole criterion for determining eligibility and an appropriate educational program for a disabled preschool child or child.

f. selected to assess specific areas of educational strengths and needs, not merely to provide a single general intelligence quotient.

3. The evaluation shall be conducted by a multidisciplinary team and shall include a teacher or other specialist with knowledge in the areas of the suspected disability.

4. The preschool child or child shall be evaluated in all areas related to the suspected disability. When necessary, the evaluation shall include:

a. The current level of academic functioning, to include general intelligence.

b. Visual and auditory acuity.

c. Social and emotional status, to include social functioning within the educational environment and within the family.

d. Current physical status, including perceptual and motor abilities.

e. Vocational transitional assessment (for children ages 14-21 years (inclusive)).

5. The appropriate CSC shall met as soon as possible after the preschool child's or child's formal evaluation to determine whether he or she is in need of special education and related services. The preschool child's or child's parents shall be invited to the meeting and afforded the opportunity to participate in such a meeting.

6. The school CSC shall issue a written report that contains:

a. A review of the formal and informal diagnostic evaluation findings of the multidisciplinary team.

b. A summary of information from the parents, the preschool child or child, or other persons having significant previous contact with the preschool child or child.

c. A description of the preschool child's or child's current academic progress, including a statement of his or her learning style.

d. A description of the nature and severity of the preschool child's or child's disability(ies).

7. A preschool child or child with a disability shall receive an individual comprehensive diagnostic evaluation every 3 years, or more frequently if conditions warrant, or if the preschool child's or child's parent, teacher, or related service provider requests an evaluation. The scope and nature of the reevaluation shall be determined individually, based upon the preschool child's or child's performance, behavior, and needs when the reevaluation is conducted, and be used to update or revise the IEP.

C. Individualized Education Program (IEP)

1. Section 6 School Arrangements shall ensure that an IEP is developed and implemented for each preschool child or child with a disability enrolled in a Section 6 School Arrangement or placed on another institution by a Section 6 School Arrangement CSC under this part.

2. Each IEP shall include:

a. A statement of the preschool child's or child's present levels of educational performance.

b. A statement of annual goals, including short-term instructional objectives.

c. A statement of the specific special educational services and related services to be provided to the preschool child or child (including the frequency, number of times per week/month and intensity, amount of times each day) and the extent to which the preschool child or child may be able to participate in regular educational programs.

d. The projected anticipated date for the initiation and the anticipated length of such activities and services.

e. Appropriate objective criteria and evaluation procedures and schedules for determining, on an annual basis, whether educational goals and objectives are being achieved.

f. A statement of the needed transition services for the child beginning no later than age 16 and annually thereafter (and when determined appropriate for the child, beginning at age 14 or younger) including, when appropriate, a statement of DoD Component responsibilities before the child leaves the school setting.

3. Each preschool child or child with a disability shall be provided the opportunity to participate, with adaptations when appropriate, in the regular physical education program available to students without disabilities unless:

a. The preschool child or child with a disability is enrolled full-time in a separate facility; or

b. The preschool child or child with a disability needs specially designed physical education, as prescribed in his or her IEP.

4. If specially designed physical education services are prescribed in the IEP of a preschool child or child with a disability, the Section 6 School Arrangement shall provide such education directly, or shall make arrangements for the services to be provided through a non-Section 6 School Arrangement or another facility.

5. Section 6 School Arrangements shall ensure that a preschool child or child with a disability, enrolled by a CSC in a separate facility, receives appropriate, physical education in compliance with this part.

6. The IEP for each preschool child or child with a disability shall be developed and reviewed at least annually in meetings that include the following participants:

a. The designated representative of the Section 6 School Arrangement, who is qualified to supervise the provision of special education. Such representative may not be the preschool child's or child's special education teacher.

b. One, or more, of the preschool child's or child's regular education teachers, if appropriate.

c. The preschool child's or child's special education teacher or teachers.

d. One, or both, of the preschool child's or child's parents.

e. The child, if appropriate.

f. For a preschool child or child with a disability who has been evaluated, a member of the evaluation team or another person knowledgeable about the evaluation procedures used with that student and familiar with the results of the evaluation.

g. Other individuals, at the reasonable discretion of the parent(s) or the school.

7. Section 6 School Arrangements shall:

2a. Ensure that an IEP meeting is held, normally within 10 working days, following a determination by the appropriate CSC that the preschool child or child is eligible to receive special education and/or related services.

b. Address the needs of a preschool child or child with a current IEP who transfers from a school operated by the DoD in accordance with 32 CFR part^[1] or from a Section 6 School Arrangement to a Section 6 School Arrangement, by:

(1) Implementing the current IEP; or

(2) Revising the current IEP with the consent of a parent; or

(3) Initiating, with the consent of a parent, an evaluation of the preschool child or child, while continuing to provide appropriate services through a current IEP; or

(4) Initiating, with the consent of the parent, an evaluation of the preschool child or child without the provision of the services in the current IEP; or

(5) Initiating mediation, and if necessary, due process procedures.

c. Afford the preschool child's or child's parent(s) the opportunity to participate in every IEP or CSC meeting about their preschool child or child by:

(1) Providing the parent(s) adequate written notice of the purpose, time, and place of the meeting.

(2) Attempting to schedule the meeting at a mutually agreeable time and place.

8. If neither parent can attend the meeting, other methods to promote participation by a parent, such as telephone conservations and letters, shall be used.

9. A meeting may be conducted without a parent in attendance if the Section 6 School Arrangement is unable to secure the attendance of the parent. In this case, the Section 6 School Arrangement must have written records of its attempts to arrange a mutually acceptable time and place.

10. If the parent(s) attends the IEP meeting, the Section 6 School Arrangement shall take necessary action to ensure that at least one of the parents understands the proceedings at the meeting, including providing an interpreter for a parent who is deaf or whose native language is other than English.

11. The section 6 School Arrangement shall give a parent a copy of the preschool child's IEP.

12. Section 6 School Arrangements shall provide special education and related services, in accordance with an IEP, provided that the Department of Defense, its constituent elements, and its personnel, are not accountable if a preschool child or child does not achieve the growth projected in the IEP.

13. Section 6 School Arrangements shall ensure that an IEP is developed and implemented for each preschool child or child with a disability whom the CSC places in a non-Section 6 School or other facility.

D. Placement Procedures and Least Restrictive Environment

1. The placement of a preschool child or child in any special education program by the Section 6 School Arrangement shall be made only under an IEP and after a determination has been made that such student has a disability and needs special education and/or related services.

2. The Section 6 School Arrangement CSC shall identify the special education and related services to be provided under the IEP.

3. A placement decision may not be implemented without the consent of a parent of the preschool child or child, except as otherwise provided in accordance with this part.

4. The placement decision must be designed to educate a preschool child or child with a disability in the least restrictive environment so that such student is educated to the maximum extent appropriate with students who do not have disabilities. Special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of preschool children or children with disabilities from the regular educational environment shall occur only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that the preschool child or child with disabilities cannot be educated satisfactorily in the regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services, including related services.

5. Each educational placement for a preschool child or child with a disability shall be:

a. Determined at least annually by the appropriate CSC.

b. Based on the preschool child or child's IEP.

c. Located as close as possible to the residence of the parent who is sponsoring the preschool child or child for attendance in a Section 6 School Arrangement.

d. Designed to assign the preschool child or child to the school such student would attend if he or she were not a student with a disability, unless the IEP requires some other arrangement.

e. Predicated on the consideration of all factors affecting the preschool child's or child's well-being, including the effects of separation from parent(s).

f. To the maximum extent appropriate, designed so that the preschool child or child participates in school activities, including meals and recess periods, with students who do not have a disability.

E. Children With Disabilities Placed in Non-Section 6 School Arrangements

1. Before a Section 6 School Arrangement CSC, with the concurrence of the Section 6 School Arrangement Superintendent concerned, places a preschool child or child with a disability in a non-Section 6 School or facility, the Section 6 School CSC shall conduct a meeting in accordance with this part to initiate the development of an IEP for such student.

2. Preschool children and children with disabilities eligible to receive instruction in Section 6 School Arrangements who are referred to another school or facility by the Section 6 School CSC have all the rights of students with disabilities who are attending the Section 6 School Arrangement.

a. If a Section 6 School Arrangement CSC places a preschool child or child with a disability in a non-Section 6 School Arrangement or facility as a means of providing special education and related services, the program of that facility, including nonmedical care, room, and board, as set forth in the student's IEP, must be at no cost to the student or the student's parents.

b. A Section 6 School Arrangement CSC may place a preschool child or child with a disability in a non-Section 6 School Arrangement or facility only if required by an IEP. An IEP for a student placed in a non-Section 6 School is not valid until signed by the Section 6 School Arrangement Superintendent, or designee, who must have participated in the IEP meeting. The IEP shall include determinations that:

(1) The Section 6 School Arrangement does not currently have, and cannot reasonably create, an educational program appropriate to meet the needs of the student with a disability.

(2) The non-Section 6 School Arrangement or facility and its educational program conform to this part.

3. A Section 6 School Arrangement is not responsible for the cost of a non-Section 6 School Arrangement placement when placement is made unilaterally, without the approval of the cognizant CSC and the Superintendent, unless it is directed by a hearing officer under appendix C of this part or a court of competent jurisdiction.

F. Procedural Safeguards

1. Parents shall be given written notice before the Section 6 School Arrangement CSC proposes to initiate or change, or refuses to initiate or change, either the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of a preschool child or child receiving, or entitled to receive, special education and related services from a Section 6 School Arrangement, or the provision of a free appropriate public education by the Section 6 School Arrangement to the child. The notice shall fully inform a parent of the procedural rights conferred by this part and shall be given in the parent's native language, unless it clearly is not feasible to do so.

2. The consent of a parent of a preschool child or child with a disability or suspected of having a disability shall be obtained before any:

a. Initiation of formal evaluation procedures;

b. Initial special educational placement; or

c. Change in educational placement.

3. If a parent refuses consent to any formal evaluation or initial placement in a special education program, the Section 6 School Arrangement Superintendent may initiate an impartial due process hearing, as provided in appendix C of this part to show why an evaluation or placement in a special education program should occur without such consent. If the hearing officer sustains the Section 6 School Arrangement CSC position in the impartial due process hearing, the appropriate CSC may evaluate or provide special education and related services to the preschool child or child without the consent of a parent, subject to the parent's due process rights.

4. A parent is entitled to an independent evaluation of his or her preschool child or child at the Section 6 School Arrangement's expense, if the parent disagrees with the findings of an evaluation of the student conducted by the school and the parent successfully challenges the evaluation in an impartial due process hearing.

a. If an independent evaluation is provided at the expense of a Section 6 School Arrangement, it must meet the following criteria:

(1) Conform to the requirements of this part.

(2) Be conducted, when possible, within the area where the preschool child or child resides.

(3) Meet applicable DoD standards governing persons qualified to conduct an evaluation.

b. If the final decision rendered in an impartial due process hearing sustains the evaluation of the Section 6 School Arrangement CSC, the parent has the right to an independent evaluation, but not at the expense of the Department of Defense or any DoD Component.

5. The parents of a preschool child or child with a disability shall be afforded an opportunity to inspect and review all relevant educational records concerning the identification, evaluation, and educational placement of such student, and the provision of a free appropriate public education to him or her.

6. Upon complaint presented in a written petition, the parent of a preschool child or child with a disability or the Section 6 School System shall have the opportunity for an impartial due process hearing provided by the Department of Defense as prescribed by appendix C of this part.

7. During the pendency of any impartial due process hearing or judicial proceeding on the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of a preschool child or child with a disability receiving an education from a Section 6 School Arrangement or the provision of a free appropriate public education to such a student, unless the Section 6 School Arrangement and a parent of the student agree otherwise, the student shall remain in his or her present educational placement, subject to the disciplinary procedures prescribed in this part.

8. If a preschool child or child with a disability, without a current IEP, who is entitled to receive educational instruction from a Section 6 School Arrangement is applying for initial admission to a Section 6 School Arrangement, that student shall enter that Arrangement on the same basis as a student without a disability.

9. The parent of a preschool child or child with a disability or a Section 6 School Arrangement employee may file a written communication with the Section 6 School Arrangement Superintendent about possible general violations of this part or Pub. L. 101-476, as amended. Such communications will not be treated as complaints under appendix C of this part.

G. Disciplinary Procedures

1. All regular disciplinary rules and procedures applicable to students receiving educational instruction in the Section 6 School Arrangements shall apply to preschool children and children with disabilities who violate school rules and regulations or disrupt regular classroom activities, subject to the provisions of this section.

2. The appropriate CSC shall determine whether the conduct of a preschool child or child with a disability is the result of that disability before the long-term suspension (10 consecutive or cumulative days during the school year) or the expulsion of that student.

3. If the CSC determines that the conduct of such a preschool child or child with a disability results in whole or part from his or her disability, that student may not be subject to any regular disciplinary rules and procedures; and

a. The student's parent shall be notified in accordance with this part of the right to have an IEP meeting before any change in the student's special education placement. (A termination of the student's education for more than 10 days, either cumulative or consecutive, constitutes a change of placement.)

b. The Section 6 School Arrangement CSC or another authorized school official shall ensure that an IEP meeting is held to determine the appropriate educational placement for the student in consideration of his or her conduct before the tenth cumulative day of the student's suspension or an expulsion.

4. A preschool child or child with a disability shall neither be suspended for more than 10 days nor expelled, and his or her educational placement shall not otherwise be changed for disciplinary reasons, unless in accordance with this section, except that:

a. This section shall be applicable only to preschool children and children determined to have a disability under this part.

b. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the emergency suspension of any preschool child or child with a disability who endangers or reasonable appears to endanger the health, welfare, or safety of himself or herself, or any other student, teacher, or school personnel, provided that:

(1) The appropriate Section 6 School Arrangement CSC shall immediately meet to determine whether the preschool child's or child's conduct results from his or her disability and what change in special education placement is appropriate for that student.

(2) The child's parent(s) shall be notified immediately of the student's suspension and of the time, purpose, and location of the CSC meeting and their right to attend the meeting.

(3) A component is included in the IEP that addresses the behavioral needs of the student.

(4) The suspension of the student is only effective for the duration of the emergency.

Footnotes - Appendix B to Part 80

^[1] Copies of DoD Directive 1342.6 may be obtained, at cost, from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161.