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).
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- Physical Integration: planning for the location of special programs in age-appropriate school buildings with regular education programs.
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- Functional Integration: planning for how students with handicaps and their non-handicapped peers can simultaneously use school facilities and resources.
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- Social Integration: planning for regular personal interactions between students who are handicapped and non-handicapped.
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- 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
