BILL REQ. #:  S-4378.1 

Read first time 01/17/2006.   Referred to Committee on Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the special education ombudsman; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.155 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28A.155 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds that children with disabilities and special needs have received and are receiving a better education thanks to special education educators who have devoted themselves, heart and soul, to the schooling of these students. The legislature further finds that special education has accomplished a great deal for children with disabilities in Washington state in the past and can accomplish more in the future if the educators are able to receive help from experts outside of the field of education but related to the needs of these students.
     (2) The special education ombudsman created in section 507, chapter 518, Laws of 2005, shall form a state interdisciplinary team of experts or regional teams of experts to assist school districts that request assistance in conducting an initial evaluation or a reevaluation of a student who is suspected or has been found to have a disability that adversely affects the student's educational performance. The team shall include qualified physicians and psychologists who can identify the appropriate medical and psychological services that the child will need outside of and within the school setting in order to be able to benefit from the specially designed instruction provided by the educators in the school. Additionally, the ombudsman's team shall assist school districts to develop an individualized education program for the student.
     (3) A school district may request assistance from the special education ombudsman interdisciplinary team or teams when conducting an evaluation or reevaluation of a student and when developing an individualized education program for a student. A school district shall request assistance from the ombudsman if it appears that the student may need medical or psychological services.
     (4) The office of the superintendent of public instruction shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW to implement this section. The rules shall require minimal paperwork for school districts to access the assistance of the ombudsman's team of experts.