0520-01-09-.09
Lea Eligibility For Federal Idea Part B Funds
Cite as Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0520-01-09-.09
(1)
Each LEA shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department of Education that it:
(a)
Complies with all state and federal requirements for child find;
(b)
Makes available a FAPE to all children with disabilities;
(c)
Includes children with disabilities in state and district-wide assessments, with
appropriate accommodations and modifications where necessary, or in alternate
assessments. The type of assessment must be determined by the IEP team consistent
with the state guidelines for participation of students with disabilities in state or district-
wide assessments.
(d)
Ensures that children with disabilities participating in early intervention programs
experience a smooth and effective transition to preschool programs and that, by the
child’s third birthday, an IEP has been developed and implemented for the child. The
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LEA shall participate in the transition planning meeting no less than ninety (90) days
prior to the third birthday of a child who may be a child with a disability.
(e)
Ensures that children with disabilities who are enrolled in private schools or facilities by
the LEA are provided special education and related services, in accordance with the
IEP, at no cost to them or to their parents.
(f)
Ensures that children with disabilities who are enrolled in private schools by their
parents have an opportunity for special education services and that the amount spent
to provide those services is a proportionate amount of the federal funds made available
to the LEA. No unilaterally placed private school child with a disability has an individual
entitlement to receive some or all of the special education and related services that the
child would receive if enrolled in a public school.
(g)
Establishes and has in effect policies, procedures, and programs that are consistent
with this chapter for implementing the provision of special education and related
services in order to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations
including, but not limited to:
1.
Free appropriate public education, including interagency agreements to ensure
FAPE for all children;
2.
Child find procedures;
3.
Evaluation, reevaluation and determination of eligibility procedures;
4.
IEP/Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) procedures;
5.
Confidentiality procedures;
6.
Private school services procedures;
7.
Goals for performance of children with disabilities through school improvement
planning;
8.
Inclusion of children with disabilities in state and district-wide assessment
programs with appropriate accommodations and modifications and the reporting
of assessment data; and
9.
Maintenance of effort.
(h)
Supplements the provision of special education funds but does not commingle or
supplant the provision of special education funding.
(i)
Publicizes annual information regarding its special education programs and services
and child find activities.
(j)
Ensures that special education professionals and paraprofessionals are provided
professional development collaboratively with general education personnel.
(k)
Ensures that school administrators have professional development, training and the
resources to establish challenging expectations and provide access to the general
education curriculum in the regular classroom to the maximum extent possible for all
children including those eligible for special education.
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(l)
Ensures that a continuum of alternative placements and related services are available
to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
(2)
Each LEA shall annually submit to the Department, at a minimum, the following information in
accordance with the Department’s guidelines:
(a)
A census of children with disabilities showing the total number and distribution of
children within the LEA’s jurisdiction who are provided special education and related
services;
(b)
An assurance that IDEA funds will be used to supplement, and not to supplant, state
and local funds, and will be expended only for the excess cost of providing special
education and related services to children with disabilities;
(c)
An assurance that, to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities are
educated with children without disabilities;
(d)
A detailed budget and end of the year report of expenditures of all funds available to
provide special education and related services; and
(e)
An assurance that a FAPE is available to all children with disabilities between the ages
of three (3) and twenty-one (21), inclusive, including children who reach twenty-two
(22) years of age during the school year and children who have been suspended or
expelled for more than ten (10) school days in a school year.
(3)
Each LEA shall maintain an accurate record of all children with disabilities who are residing
within its jurisdiction. The census shall be taken on December 1 of each year and at other
times as required by the Department.
(4)
LEAs shall evaluate their special education programs and related services according to
federal and state evaluation criteria.
(5)
LEAs, state agencies, and private schools shall be monitored on a periodic basis by the
Department of Education to determine the extent to which special education and related
services are being implemented in the least restrictive environment and to assure compliance
with applicable laws and regulations. The Department of Education shall provide technical
assistance in self-evaluation, program planning, and implementation of any necessary
corrective action plans.
(6)
The Department shall annually report on the Department’s website, at a minimum, the
following information:
(a)
The number and percentage of children with disabilities in this state;
(b)
The number and percentage of children with disabilities, disaggregated by disability
category;
(c)
The participation and performance of children with disabilities on state assessments;
and
(d)
Other performance indicators for children with disabilities.