Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 392-172A-01035 Child with a disability or student eligible for special education, 392-172A-02090 Personnel qualifications, 392-172A-03055 Specific learning disability -- Determination, 392-172A-03080 Specific documentation for the eligibility determination of students suspected of having specific learning disabilities, 392-172A-03105 When IEPs must be in effect, 392-172A-04050 Due process and state complaints regarding parentally placed students in a private school, 392-172A-04090 Approval of nonpublic agencies, 392-172A-04115 Placement of students when FAPE is at issue, 392-172A-05030 Investigation of the complaint and decision, 392-172A-05145 Authority of school personnel, and 392-172A-05220 Hearing on a request to amend records.

     These rules are part of the special education regulations for school districts in the state of Washington.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Office of the superintendent of public instruction (OSPI) is amending its rules so they are consistent with federal language, and is correcting regulatory references in the rules which are currently incorrect.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Public Law No. 111-256 was signed on October 5, 2010. It struck the term "mental retardation" in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B and replaced it with the term "intellectual disabilities." OSPI is amending its special education rules to replace the term "mental retardation" with "intellectual disability" so they are consistent with federal law. OSPI is also amending its special education rules that have incorrect regulatory references, and amending the language of rules so they are consistent with the federal regulations they implement.

     OSPI is using expedited rule making for these amendments because it is adopting without material change a federal regulation, as allowed by RCW 34.05.353 (1)(b), and is correcting typographical errors that do not change the effect of the rules, as allowed by RCW 34.05.353 (1)(c).

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.155.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 28A.155 RCW.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, 20 U.S.C. 1400 (c)(12)(C); 20 U.S.C. 1401 (3)(A)(i); 20 U.S.C. 1401 (30)(C).

     Name of Proponent: OSPI, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Pamela McPartland, OSPI, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, (360) 725-6075; Implementation and Enforcement: Doug Gill, OSPI, P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200, (360) 725-6075.

November 30, 2010

Randy Dorn

Superintendent of

Public Instruction

OTS-3805.2

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-14-078, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07)

WAC 392-172A-01035   Child with a disability or student eligible for special education.   (1)(a) Child with a disability or as used in this chapter, a student eligible for special education means a student who has been evaluated and determined to need special education because of having a disability in one of the following eligibility categories: ((Mental retardation)) Intellectual disability, a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), an emotional behavioral disability, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, an other health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, or for students, three through eight, a developmental delay and who, because of the disability and adverse educational impact, has unique needs that cannot be addressed exclusively through education in general education classes with or without individual accommodations, and needs special education and related services.

     (b) If it is determined, through an appropriate evaluation, that a student has one of the disabilities identified in subsection (1)(a) of this section, but only needs a related service and not special education, the student is not a student eligible for special education under this chapter. School districts and other public agencies must be aware that they have obligations under other federal and state civil rights laws and rules, including 29 U.S.C. 764, RCW 49.60.030, and 43 U.S.C. 12101 that apply to students who have a disability regardless of the student's eligibility for special education and related services.

     (c) Speech and language pathology, audiology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services, may be provided as specially designed instruction, if the student requires those therapies as specially designed instruction, and meets the eligibility requirements which include a disability, adverse educational impact and need for specially designed instruction. They are provided as a related service under WAC 392-172A-01155 when the service is required to allow the student to benefit from specially designed instruction.

     (2) The terms used in subsection (1)(a) of this section are defined as follows:

     (a)(i) Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a student's educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.

     (ii) Autism does not apply if a student's educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the student has an emotional behavioral disability, as defined in subsection (2)(e) of this section.

     (iii) A student who manifests the characteristics of autism after age three could be identified as having autism if the criteria in (a)(i) of this subsection are satisfied.

     (b) Deaf-blindness means concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for students with deafness or students with blindness and adversely affect a student's educational performance.

     (c) Deafness means a hearing impairment that is so severe that the student is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

     (d)(i) Developmental delay means a student three through eight who is experiencing developmental delays that adversely affect the student's educational performance in one or more of the following areas: Physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development or adaptive development and who demonstrates a delay on a standardized norm referenced test, with a test-retest or split-half reliability of .80 that is at least:

     (A) Two standard deviations below the mean in one or more of the five developmental areas; or

     (B) One and one-half standard deviations below the mean in two or more of the five developmental areas.

     (ii) The five developmental areas for students with a developmental delay are:

     (A) Cognitive development: Comprehending, remembering, and making sense out of one's experience. Cognitive ability is the ability to think and is often thought of in terms of intelligence;

     (B) Communication development: The ability to effectively use or understand age-appropriate language, including vocabulary, grammar, and speech sounds;

     (C) Physical development: Fine and/or gross motor skills requiring precise, coordinated, use of small muscles and/or motor skills used for body control such as standing, walking, balance, and climbing;

     (D) Social or emotional development: The ability to develop and maintain functional interpersonal relationships and to exhibit age appropriate social and emotional behaviors; and

     (E) Adaptive development: The ability to develop and exhibit age-appropriate self-help skills, including independent feeding, toileting, personal hygiene and dressing skills.

     (iii) A school district is not required to adopt and use the category "developmentally delayed" for students, three through eight.

     (iv) If a school district uses the category "developmentally delayed," the district must conform to both the definition and age range of three through eight, established under this section.

     (v) School districts using the category "developmentally delayed," for students three through eight may also use any other eligibility category.

     (vi) Students who qualify under the developmental delay eligibility category must be reevaluated before age nine and determined eligible for services under one of the other eligibility categories.

     (vii) The term "developmentally delayed, birth to three years" are those infants and toddlers under three years of age who:

     (A) Meet the eligibility criteria established by the state lead agency under Part C of IDEA; and

     (B) Are in need of early intervention services under Part C of IDEA. Infants and toddlers who qualify for early intervention services must be evaluated prior to age three in order to determine eligibility for special education and related services.

     (e)(i) Emotional/behavioral disability means a condition where the student exhibits one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a student's educational performance:

     (A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.

     (B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.

     (C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

     (D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

     (E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

     (ii) Emotional/behavioral disability includes schizophrenia. The term does not apply to students who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance under (e)(i) of this subsection.

     (f) Hearing impairment means an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a student's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness in this section.

     (g) ((Mental retardation)) Intellectual disability means significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

     (h) Multiple disabilities means concomitant impairments, the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. The term, multiple disabilities does not include deaf-blindness.

     (i) Orthopedic impairment means a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a student's educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures).

     (j) Other health impairment means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that:

     (i) Is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome; and

     (ii) Adversely affects a student's educational performance.

     (k)(i) Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

     (ii) Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of ((mental retardation)) intellectual disability, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.

     (l) Speech or language impairment means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

     (m) Traumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a student's educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.

     (n) Visual impairment including blindness means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a student's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-01035, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (a) All employees shall hold such credentials, certificates, endorsements or permits as are now or hereafter required by the professional educator standards board for the particular position of employment and shall meet such supplemental standards as may be established by the school district of employment. Supplemental standards established by a district or other public agency may exceed, but not be less than, those established by the professional educator standards board in accordance with TITLE 181 WAC and this section.

     (b) In addition to the requirement of this subsection (1), all special education teachers providing, designing, supervising, monitoring or evaluating the provision of special education shall possess "substantial professional training." "Substantial professional training" as used in this section shall be evidenced by issuance of an appropriate special education endorsement on an individual teaching certificate issued by the OSPI, professional education and certification section.

     (c) Other certificated related services personnel providing specially designed instruction or related services as defined in this chapter, shall meet standards established under the educational staff associate rules of the professional educator standards board, as now or hereafter amended.

     (d) Employees with only an early childhood special education endorsement may be assigned to programs that serve students birth through eight. Preference for an early childhood special education assignment must be given first to employees having early childhood special education endorsement.

     (e) Certified and/or classified staff assigned to provide instruction in Braille, the use of Braille, or the production of Braille must demonstrate competency with grade two standard literary Braille code by successful completion of a test approved by the professional educator standards board pursuant to WAC 181-82-130.

     (f) Paraprofessional staff and aides shall present evidence of skills and knowledge necessary to meet the needs of students eligible for special education, and shall be under the supervision of a certificated teacher with a special education endorsement or a certificated educational staff associate, as provided in (g) of this subsection. Paraprofessional staff in Title 1 school-wide programs shall meet ESEA standards for paraprofessionals. Districts shall have procedures that ensure that classified staff receive training to meet state recommended core competencies pursuant to RCW 28A.415.310.

     (g) Special education and related services must be provided by appropriately qualified staff. Other staff including general education teachers and paraprofessionals may assist in the provision of special education and related services, provided that the instruction is designed and supervised by special education certificated staff, or for related services by a certificated educational staff associate. Student progress must be monitored and evaluated by special education certificated staff or for related services, a certificated educational staff associate.

     (2) School districts must take measurable steps to recruit, hire, train, and retain highly qualified personnel to provide special education and related services to students eligible for special education. There may be occasions when, despite efforts to hire or retain highly qualified teachers, they are unable to do so. The following options are available in these situations:

     (a) Teachers who meet state board criteria pursuant to WAC 181-82-110(3) as now or hereafter amended, are eligible for a preendorsement waiver. Application for the special education preendorsement waiver shall be made to the special education section at the OSPI.

     (b) In order to temporarily assign a classroom teacher without a special education endorsement to a special education position, the district or other public agency must keep written documentation on the following:

     (i) The school district must make one or more of the following factual determinations:

     (A) The district or other public agency was unable to recruit a teacher with the proper endorsement who was qualified for the position;

     (B) The need for a teacher with such an endorsement could not have been reasonably anticipated and the recruitment of such a classroom teacher at the time of assignment was not reasonably practicable; and/or

     (C) The reassignment of another teacher within the district or other public agency with the appropriate endorsement to such assignment would be unreasonably disruptive to the current assignments of other classroom teachers or would have an adverse effect on the educational program of the students assigned such other classroom teachers.

     (ii) Upon determination by a school district that one or more of these criteria can be documented, and the district determines that a teacher has the competencies to be an effective special education teacher but does not have endorsement in special education, the district can so assign the teacher to special education. The teacher so assigned must have completed six semester hours or nine quarter hours of course work which are applicable to an endorsement in special education. The following requirements apply:

     (A) A designated representative of the district and any such teacher shall mutually develop a written plan which provides for necessary assistance to the teacher, and which provides for a reasonable amount of planning and study time associated specifically with the out-of-endorsement assignment;

     (B) Such teachers shall not be subject to nonrenewal or probation based on evaluations of their teaching effectiveness in the out-of-endorsement assignments;

     (C) Such teaching assignments shall be approved by a formal vote of the local school board for each teacher so assigned; and

     (D) The assignment of such teachers for the previous school year shall be reported annually to the professional educator standards board by the employing school district as required by WAC ((181-16-195)) 180-16-195.

     (3) Teachers placed under the options described in subsection (2) of this section do not meet the definition of highly qualified.

     (4) Notwithstanding any other individual right of action that a parent or student may maintain under this chapter, nothing in this section shall be construed to create a right of action on behalf of an individual student or a class of students for the failure of a particular school district employee be highly qualified, or to prevent a parent from filing a state complaint about staff qualifications with the OSPI under WAC 392-172A-05025 through 392-172A-05040.

     (5) School districts and other public agencies that are recipients of funding under Part B of the act must make positive efforts to employ, and advance in employment, qualified individuals with disabilities in programs assisted under Part B of the act.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090 and 34 C.F.R. Part 300. 09-20-053, § 392-172A-02090, filed 10/1/09, effective 11/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-02090, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (1) The student does not achieve adequately for the student's age or meet the state's grade level standards when provided with learning experiences and instruction appropriate for the student's age in one or more of the following areas:

     (a) Oral expression.

     (b) Listening comprehension.

     (c) Written expression.

     (d) Basic reading skill.

     (e) Reading fluency skills.

     (f) Reading comprehension.

     (g) Mathematics calculation.

     (h) Mathematics problem solving.

     (2)(a) The student does not make sufficient progress to meet age or state grade level standards in one or more of the areas identified in subsection (1) of this section when using a process based on the student's response to scientific, research-based intervention or the group finds that the student has a severe discrepancy between achievement and intellectual ability in one or more of the areas identified in subsection (1) of this section; and

     (b) When considering eligibility under (a) of this subsection, the group may also consider whether the student exhibits a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement, or both, relative to age, state grade level standards, or intellectual development, that is determined by the group to be relevant to the identification of a specific learning disability, using appropriate assessments, and through review of existing data.

     (3) The group determines that its findings under subsection (2) of this section are not primarily the result of:

     (a) A visual, hearing, or motor disability;

     (b) ((Mental retardation)) Intellectual disability;

     (c) Emotional disturbance;

     (d) Cultural factors;

     (e) Environmental or economic disadvantage; or

     (f) Limited English proficiency.

     (4) To ensure that underachievement in a student suspected of having a specific learning disability is not due to lack of appropriate instruction in reading or math, the group must consider:

     (a) Data that demonstrate that prior to, or as a part of, the referral process, the student was provided appropriate instruction in general education settings, delivered by qualified personnel; and

     (b) Data-based documentation of repeated assessments of achievement at reasonable intervals, reflecting formal assessment of student progress during instruction, which was provided to the student's parents.

     (5) The district or other public agency must promptly request parental consent to evaluate the student to determine if the student needs special education and related services, and must adhere to the time frames for an initial evaluation under WAC 392-172A-03005:

     (a) If, prior to a referral, a student has not made adequate progress after an appropriate period of time when provided instruction, as described in subsection (4)(a) and (b) of this section; or

     (b) Whenever a student is referred for an evaluation.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-03055, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (a) Whether the student has a specific learning disability;

     (b) The basis for making the determination, including an assurance that the determination has been made in accordance with WAC 392-172A-03040;

     (c) The relevant behavior, if any, noted during the observation of the student and the relationship of that behavior to the student's academic functioning;

     (d) Any educationally relevant medical findings;

     (e) Whether:

     (i) The student does not achieve adequately for the student's age or meet state grade level standards in one or more of the areas described in WAC 392-172A-03055(1); and

     (ii)(A) The student does not make sufficient progress to meet age or state grade level standards when using a process based on the student's response to scientific research-based interventions consistent with WAC 392-172A-03060; or

     (B) The student meets eligibility through a severe discrepancy model consistent with WAC 392-172A-03070; and

     (C) If used as part of the eligibility determination under (A) or (B) of this subsection, a discussion of the student's pattern of strengths and weaknesses in performance, achievement or both, relative to age, state grade level standards, or intellectual development.

     (f) The determination of the group concerning the effects of a visual, hearing, or motor disability; ((mental retardation)) intellectual disability; emotional disturbance; cultural factors; environmental or economic disadvantage; or limited English proficiency on the student's achievement level; and

     (g) If the student has participated in a process that assesses the student's response to scientific, research-based intervention:

     (i) The instructional strategies used and the student-centered data collected in accordance with the district's response to intervention procedures; and

     (ii) The documentation that the student's parents were notified about:

     (A) State and school district policies regarding the amount and nature of student performance data that would be collected and the general education services that would be provided;

     (B) Strategies for increasing the student's rate of learning; and

     (C) The parents' right to request an evaluation.

     (2) Each group member must certify in writing whether the report reflects the member's conclusion. If it does not reflect the member's conclusion, the group member must submit a separate statement presenting the member's conclusions.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-03080, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (2) For an initial IEP, a school district must ensure that:

     (a) A meeting to develop the student's IEP within thirty days of a determination that the student is eligible for special education and related services; and

     (b) As soon as possible following development of the IEP, special education and related services are made available to the student in accordance with the student's IEP.

     (3) Each school district must ensure that:

     (a) The student's IEP is accessible to each general education teacher, special education teacher, related services provider, and any other service provider who is responsible for its implementation; and

     (b) Each teacher and provider described in (a) of this subsection is informed of:

     (i) His or her specific responsibilities related to implementing the student's IEP; and

     (ii) The specific accommodations, modifications, and supports that must be provided for the student in accordance with the IEP.

     (4) If a student eligible for special education transfers from one school district to another school district within the state and has an IEP that was in effect for the current school year from the previous school district, the new school district, in consultation with the parents, must provide FAPE to the student including services comparable to those described in the student's IEP, until the new school district either:

     (a) Adopts the student's IEP from the previous school district; or

     (b) Develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP that meets the applicable requirements in WAC 392-172A-03090 through 392-172A-03110.

     (5) If a student eligible for special education transfers from a school district located in another state to a school district within the state and has an IEP that is in effect for the current school year from the previous school district, the new school district, in consultation with the parents, must provide FAPE to the student including services comparable to those described in the student's IEP, until the new school district:

     (a) Conducts an evaluation to determine whether the student is eligible for special education services in this state, if the school district believes an evaluation is necessary to determine eligibility under state standards; and

     (b) Develops, adopts, and implements a new IEP, if appropriate, that meets the applicable requirements in WAC 392-172A-03090 through 392-172A-03110.

     (6) To facilitate the transition for a student described in subsections (4) and (5) of this section:

     (a) The new school in which the student enrolls must take reasonable steps to promptly obtain the student's records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education or related services to the student, from the school district in which the student was previously enrolled, pursuant to RCW ((28A.225.335)) 28A.225.330 and consistent with applicable Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements; and

     (b) The school district in which the student was enrolled must take reasonable steps to promptly respond to the request from the new school district, pursuant to RCW 28A.225.335 and applicable FERPA requirements.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090 and 34 C.F.R. Part 300. 09-20-053, § 392-172A-03105, filed 10/1/09, effective 11/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-03105, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (2) Due process procedures may be used by a parent who is alleging that a school district has failed to meet child find requirements related to the parentally placed students in private schools.

     (3) Any due process request regarding the child find requirements described in subsection (2) of this section must be filed with the school district in which the private school is located and a copy must be forwarded to the OSPI in accordance with the due process procedures in WAC 392-172A-05080 through 392-172A-05125.

     (4) State complaints. Any complaint that OSPI or a school district has failed to meet the requirements in WAC 392-172A-04010 through 392-172A-04015 and 392-172A-04025 through ((392-172A-04075)) 392-172A-04070 must be filed in accordance with the state complaint procedures described in WAC 392-172A-05025 through 392-172A-05040.

     (5) A complaint filed by a private school official under WAC 392-172A-04030 must be filed with the OSPI in accordance with the procedures in that section.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-04050, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (2) The school district shall notify the special education section of the OSPI, in writing, of their intent to serve a student through contract with a nonpublic agency.

     (3) The OSPI shall provide the school district and the nonpublic agency with the procedures and application for nonpublic agency approval. In addition, the school district shall conduct an on-site visit of the nonpublic agency.

     (4) Upon review of the completed application which includes the results of the on-site visit, the OSPI may conduct an independent on-site visit, if appropriate, and shall determine whether the application should be approved or disapproved.

     (5) The OSPI shall make information regarding currently approved nonpublic agencies available to all school districts and to the public.

     (6) School districts shall ensure that an approved nonpublic agency is able to provide the services required to meet the unique needs of any student being placed according to the provisions of WAC ((392-172A-04075)) 392-172A-04080 through 392-172A-04095.

     (7) Nonpublic agencies located in other states must first be approved by the state education agency of the state in which the educational institution is located. Documentation of the approval shall be provided to OSPI. In the event the other state does not have a formal approval process, the nonpublic agency shall meet the requirements for approval in this state under the provisions of this chapter.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-04090, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (2) Disagreements between the parents and a school district regarding the availability of a program appropriate for the student and the question of financial reimbursement are subject to the due process procedures at WAC 392-172A-05080 through 392-172A-05125.

     (3) If the parents of a student, who previously received special education and related services under the authority of a school district, enroll the student in a private preschool, elementary or secondary school, or other facility without the consent of or referral by a school district or other public agency, a court or an administrative law judge may require a school district or other public agency to reimburse the parents for the cost of that enrollment if the court or administrative law judge finds that a school district or other public agency had not made a free appropriate public education available to the student in a timely manner prior to that enrollment and that the private placement is appropriate. A parental placement may be found to be appropriate by a hearing officer or a court even if it does not meet the state standards that apply to education provided by a school district or other public agency.

     (4) The cost of reimbursement may be reduced or denied if:

     (a)(i) At the most recent individualized education program meeting that the parents attended prior to removal of the student from the public school, the parents did not inform the team that they were rejecting the placement proposed by a school district to provide a FAPE to their student, including stating their concerns and their intent to enroll their student in a private school at public expense; or

     (ii) At least ten business days (including any holidays that occur on a business day) prior to the removal of the student from the public school, the parents did not give written notice to a school district of the information described in (a)(i) of this subsection; or

     (b) Prior to the parents' removal of the student from the public school, a school district informed the parents, through the notice requirements described in this chapter, of its intent to evaluate the student (including a statement of the purpose of the evaluation that was appropriate and reasonable), but the parents did not make the student available for the evaluation; or

     (c) Upon a judicial finding of unreasonableness with respect to actions taken by the parents.

     (5) Notwithstanding the notice requirement in subsection (4)(a)(i) of this section, the cost of reimbursement must not be reduced or denied for failure to provide the notice if:

     (a) The school district prevented the parent from providing the notice; or

     (b) The parent had not received the procedural safeguards containing notice of the requirement to notify a school district of the information required in subsection (4)(a)(i) of this section.

     (6) An administrative law judge or court may, in its discretion, determine that the cost of reimbursement will not be reduced or denied for failure to provide the notice in subsection (4)(a)(i) of this section if:

     (a) The parents are not literate or cannot write in English; or

     (b) Compliance with subsection (4)(a)(i) of this section would likely result in serious emotional harm to the student.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-04115, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (2) The school district or other agency shall respond in writing to the OSPI, and include documentation of the investigation, no later than twenty calendar days after the date of receipt of the complaint.

     (3) The response to the OSPI shall clearly state whether:

     (a) The allegations contained in the complaint are denied and the basis for such denial; or

     (b) The allegations are admitted and with proposed reasonable corrective action(s) deemed necessary to correct the violation.

     (4) The OSPI shall provide the complainant a copy of the response to the complaint and provide the complainant an opportunity to reply to the response.

     (5) The OSPI will also provide the complainant the opportunity to submit additional information, either orally or in writing, about the allegations contained in the complaint. If the additional information contains new information, the OSPI may, in its discretion, open a new complaint.

     (6) Upon review of all relevant information including, if necessary, information obtained through an independent on-site investigation by the OSPI, the OSPI will make an independent determination as to whether the public agency has or is violating a requirement of Part B of the act, the federal regulations implementing the act, this chapter, or whether the public agency is not implementing a mediation or resolution agreement.

     (7) The OSPI shall issue a written decision to the complainant that addresses each allegation in the complaint including findings of fact, conclusions, and the reasons for the decision. The decision will be issued within sixty days ((of)) after receipt of the complaint unless:

     (a) Exceptional circumstances related to the complaint require an extension; or

     (b) The complainant and school district or other agency agrees in writing to extend the time to use mediation or an alternative dispute resolution method.

     (8) If OSPI finds a violation, the decision will include any necessary corrective action to be undertaken and any documentation to be provided to ensure that the corrective action is completed. If the decision is that a school district has failed to provide appropriate services, the decision will address:

     (a) How to remediate the failure to provide those services, including, as appropriate, compensatory education, monetary reimbursement, or other corrective action appropriate to the needs of the student; and

     (b) Appropriate future provision of services for all students eligible for special education.

     (9) Corrective action ordered by OSPI must be completed within the timelines established in the written decision, unless another time period is established through an extension of the timeline. If compliance by a local school district or other public agency is not achieved pursuant to subsection (8) of this section, the superintendent of public instruction shall initiate fund withholding, fund recovery, or any other sanction deemed appropriate.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-05030, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

     (2)(a) School personnel may remove a student eligible for special education who violates a code of student conduct from his or her current placement to an appropriate interim alternative educational setting, another setting, or suspension, for not more than ten consecutive school days to the extent those alternatives are applied to students without disabilities under this section, and for additional removals of not more than ten consecutive school days in that same school year for separate incidents of misconduct as long as those removals do not constitute a change of placement under WAC 392-172A-05155.

     (b) After a student has been removed from his or her current placement for ten school days in the same school year, during any subsequent days of removal the school district must provide services to the extent required under subsection (4) of this section.

     (3) When disciplinary changes in placement exceed ten consecutive school days, and the behavior that gave rise to the violation of the school code is determined not to be a manifestation of the student's disability pursuant to subsection (5) of this section, school personnel may apply the relevant disciplinary procedures to students eligible for special education in the same manner and for the same duration as a district would apply discipline procedures to students without disabilities, except that services shall be provided in accordance with subsection (4) of this section.

     (4) A student who is removed from the student's current placement pursuant to subsection (3) or (((5))) (7) of this section must:

     (a) Continue to receive educational services, that provide a FAPE, so as to enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting the goals set out in the student's IEP; and

     (b) Receive, as appropriate when a student's removal is not a manifestation of the student's disability, a functional behavioral assessment, and behavioral intervention services and modifications, that are designed to address the behavior violation so that it does not recur.

     (c) The services required by (a), (d), (e), and (f) of this subsection may be provided in an interim alternative educational setting.

     (d) A school district is only required to provide services during periods of removal to a student eligible for special education who has been removed from his or her current placement for ten school days or less in that school year, if it provides services to a student without disabilities who is similarly removed.

     (e) After a student eligible for special education has been removed from his or her current placement for ten school days in the same school year, if the current removal is for not more than ten consecutive school days and is not a change of placement under WAC 392-172A-05155, school personnel, in consultation with at least one of the student's teachers, determine the extent to which services are needed, to enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting the goals set out in the student's IEP.

     (f) If the removal is a change of placement under WAC 392-172A-05155, the student's IEP team determines appropriate services under (a) of this subsection.

     (5)(a) Within ten school days of any decision to change the placement of a student eligible for special education because of a violation of a code of student conduct, the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team (as determined by the parent and the school district) must review all relevant information in the student's file, including the student's IEP, any teacher observations, and any relevant information provided by the parents to determine:

     (i) If the conduct in question was caused by, or had a direct and substantial relationship to, the student's disability; or

     (ii) If the conduct in question was the direct result of the school district's failure to implement the IEP.

     (b) The conduct must be determined to be a manifestation of the student's disability if the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team determine that a condition in (a)(i) or (ii) of this subsection was met.

     (c) If the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team determine the conduct was manifestation of the student's disability, the school district must take immediate steps to remedy those deficiencies.

     (6) If the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team determine the conduct was manifestation of the student's disability, the IEP team must either:

     (a) Conduct a functional behavioral assessment, unless the school district had conducted a functional behavioral assessment before the behavior that resulted in the change of placement occurred, and implement a behavioral intervention plan for the student; or

     (b) If a behavioral intervention plan already has been developed, review the behavioral intervention plan, and modify it, as necessary, to address the behavior; and

     (c) Except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, return the student to the placement from which the student was removed, unless the parent and the school district agree to a change of placement as part of the modification of the behavioral intervention plan.

     (7) Special circumstances. School personnel may remove a student to an interim alternative educational setting for not more than forty-five school days without regard to whether the behavior is determined to be a manifestation of the student's disability, if the student:

     (a) Carries a weapon to or possesses a weapon at school, on school premises, or to or at a school function under the jurisdiction of a school district;

     (b) Knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs, or sells or solicits the sale of a controlled substance, while at school, on school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction of a school district; or

     (c) Has inflicted serious bodily injury upon another person while at school, on school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction of a school district.

     (8) Notification. On the date on which the decision is made to make a removal that constitutes a change of placement of a student eligible for special education because of a violation of a code of student conduct, the school district must notify the parents of that decision, and provide the parents the procedural safeguards notice.

     (9) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

     (a) Controlled substance means a drug or other substance identified under Schedules I, II, III, IV, or V in Section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)).

     (b) Illegal drug means a controlled substance; but does not include a controlled substance that is legally possessed or used under the supervision of a licensed health care professional or that is legally possessed or used under any other authority under that act or under any other provision of federal law.

     (c) Serious bodily injury has the meaning given the term "serious bodily injury" under paragraph (3) of subsection (h) of Section 1365 of Title 18, United States Code.

     (d) Weapon has the meaning given the term "dangerous weapon" under paragraph (2) of subsection (g) of Section 930 of Title 18, United States Code.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-05145, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

OTS-3806.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 07-14-078, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07)

WAC 392-172A-05220   Hearing on a request to amend records.   A hearing initiated pursuant to WAC ((392-172A-07185)) 392-172A-05215 to challenge information in educational records shall be conducted according to procedures developed by the school district or other public agency, and in conformance with the procedures in 34 CFR 99.22 that include at least the following elements:

     (1) The hearing shall be held within a reasonable period of time after the school district has received the request;

     (2) The parent shall be given notice of the date, place, and time reasonably in advance of the hearing;

     (3) The hearing may be conducted by any party, including an official of the school district, who does not have a direct interest in the outcome of the hearing;

     (4) The parent shall be afforded a full and fair opportunity to present evidence relevant to the amendment request and may be assisted or represented by individuals of his or her choice at his or her own expense, including an attorney;

     (5) The school district shall provide a written decision to the parent within a reasonable period of time after the conclusion of the hearing; and

     (6) The decision of the agency shall:

     (a) Be based solely upon the evidence presented at the hearing; and

     (b) Include a summary of the evidence and the reasons for the decision.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.155.090(7) and 42 U.S.C. 1400 et. seq. 07-14-078, § 392-172A-05220, filed 6/29/07, effective 7/30/07.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office