603.3 - Special Education

The board recognizes some students have different educational needs than other students. The board will provide a free appropriate public education program and related services to students identified in need of special education. The special education services will be provided from birth until the appropriate education is completed, age twenty-one or to maximum age allowable in accordance with the law. Students requiring special education will attend general education classes, participate in nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities and receive services in a general education setting to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of each individual student. The appropriate education for each student is written in the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Special education students are required to meet the requirements listed for special education students in board policy 505.5 and in their IEPs for graduation. It is the responsibility of the superintendent and the area education agency director of special education to provide or make provisions for appropriate special education and related services.

Children from birth through age 2 and children age 3 through age 5 are provided comprehensive special education services within the public education system. The school district will work in conjunction with the area education agency to provide services, at the earliest appropriate time, to children with disabilities from birth through age 2. This is done to ensure a smooth transition of children entitled to early childhood special education services.

Legal Reference:  Board of Education v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176 (1982).
                                      Springdale School District #50 v. Grace, 693 F.2d 41 (8th Cir. 1982).
              Southeast Warren Comm. School District v. Dept. of Public Instruction, 285 N.W.2d 173 (Iowa 1979).
                                      20 U.S.C. §§1400 et seq.
                                      34 C.F.R. Pt. 300 et seq.
                                      Iowa Code §§ 256.11(7); 256B; 273.1, .2, .5, .9(2)-(3); 280.8.
  281 I.A.C. 41.109; 41.404

Cross Reference: 503      Student Discipline
                                      505.5   Graduation Requirements
506      Student Records
                                      507.2   Administration of Medication to Students
                                      507.8   Student Special Health Services
                                      601.1   School Calendar
                                      603      Instructional Curriculum

Adopted:               03/03/1986
Reviewed:             12/10/2019
Revised:                02/19/2001

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603.3R1 - Provision of Special Education Services

It shall be the policy of the Edgewood-Colesburg District to provide services to those children requiring special education in a manner consistent with Chapter 273, 281, and 442 Code of Iowa, IDEA, and the Rules of Special Education promulgated by the Iowa Department of Education. These services shall be provided within the most appropriate least restrictive, educational environment possible.

It shall be the intent of the District to ensure that properly identified children requiring special education, when appropriately recommended by special education support staffing teams:

Will not be placed in special education classes, separate schools or otherwise removed from the regular education environment unless the nature or severity of the handicap is such that education in a regular classroom with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

Will have the opportunity to participate with non-handicapped children in non-academic and extra-curricular activities and services when appropriately determined through the staffing process. Such participation will consider the following levels of integrative activities based upon the individual need of the child as determined through the staffing process, and will be stated in his/her written Individualized Education Program (IEP).

1. Physical Integration: planning for the location of special programs in age-appropriate school buildings with regular education programs.
1. Functional Integration: planning for how students with handicaps and their non-handicapped peers can simultaneously use school facilities and resources.
1. Social Integration: planning for regular personal interactions between students who are handicapped and non-handicapped.
1. Social Integration: planning curricular experiences so students can ultimately work, live, and recreate with non-handicapped citizens as appropriate.

The district will conduct periodic handicapped awareness in-service programs for its employees, which will address the issue of educating children requiring special education in a least restrictive environment.

The status of integration of each child requiring special education shall be addressed at his/her annual review staffing and IEP meeting.

All programs of service provided under this policy shall be developed and implemented in a manner, which assures the provisions and protection of rights, and procedural safeguards guaranteed children requiring special education, their parents/guardians under IDEA, Code of Iowa, and the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.

Where applicable, the Special Education Procedures and Guidelines developed by Keystone Area Education Agency, and adopted by the school district, will be used to implement this policy.

The policy set forth herein will be made available to the parent/guardian of any child requiring special education upon request.

Legal Reference: IDEA
1975 Section 504, Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Iowa Code Sections 273; 281; 282.27; 442
Iowa Administrative Code 670-3.5(7); 3.5(8)
DOE Rules and Regulations

Adopted:               12/09/1985
Reviewed:            12/10/2019
Revised:                12/15/2014

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606.3R2 - Guidelines and Procedures for Special Education Services

Guidelines and procedures for the implementation of special education services within the district will be established in a manual provided by Keystone Area Education Agency’s Division of Special Education. The manual has been developed and will be maintained by the Keystone Division of Special Education. The manual will be distributed to district administrative personnel and will have the status of administrative rules within the district upon the approval of the Board of Education.

The guidelines and procedures will provide for compliance with the requirements of Iowa Administrative Rules of Special Education, 281-41.1, state statutes, rules and district policies. The provisions of the manual will be subject to annual review by the Keystone Division of Special Education and the Edgewood-Colesburg School Administration. The manual will be subject to such other modifications as may be deemed appropriate to comply with district policies and rules with the approval of the district superintendent.

Legal Reference: IDEA
Section 504, Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Iowa Code Sections 273; 281; 282.27; 442
Iowa Administrative Code 670-3.5(7); 3.5(8)
DOE Rules and Regulations

Adopted:               02/20/1989
Reviewed:          12/10/2019
Revised:                08/15/2005

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