Legal Authority

These procedures are based on:

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004)
• 34 CFR §§300.130–300.144
• South Carolina State Board of Education Regulations
• South Carolina Department of Education Special Education Policies and Procedures

Definition

A parentally placed private school child with a disability is a child who:

• Has been identified as a child with a disability under IDEA;
• Is enrolled by their parent in a private elementary or secondary school located within the school district's geographic boundaries; and
• Is not placed in the private school by the public school district as part of the provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

Child Find

The school district is responsible for locating, identifying, and evaluating all parentally placed private school children with suspected disabilities who attend private schools located within the district.

Child Find activities include:

• Annual notification to private schools
• Public notices
• Meetings with private school representatives
• Referral procedures
• Evaluations conducted within state timelines

Child Find activities are comparable to those conducted for students enrolled in public schools.

If the parent of a student voluntarily enrolled in a private school contacts the home based school to request an Initial Evaluation, school personnel will provide them the contact information for the Child Find office to initiate the evaluation process.

ChildFind@greenville.k12.sc.us
Child Find: 452-0093 or 452-0121

NOTE: For students not currently active in the IEP software system Case Managers will complete a Private School Student Addition Request.

Referrals

A referral may be made by:

• Parent
• Private school personnel
• Physician
• Other agencies
• Public school personnel

Referrals shall be submitted to the school district serving the geographic location of the private school.

Evaluation

Upon receiving parental consent, the district will:

• Review existing data
• Conduct appropriate evaluations
• Determine eligibility under IDEA
• Complete the evaluation within South Carolina timelines

Evaluation procedures are identical to those used for public school students.

Eligibility Determination

An eligibility team will determine whether the student meets IDEA eligibility criteria.

Parents are invited to participate in all eligibility meetings.

If eligible, the student is entered into the district's count of parentally placed private school students.

Consultation Process

The district shall engage in timely and meaningful consultation at least annually with:

• Private school representatives
• Homeschool associations representatives
• Daycare representatives
• Preschool representatives
• Community organizations supporting school-age children within the District’s geographic boundaries
• Representatives of parents of parentally placed private school children

Topics discussed include:

• Child Find process
• Determination of proportionate share funds
• Services available
• Service delivery options
• Location of services
• How services will be evaluated
• Dispute resolution process

Documentation of consultation shall be maintained.

Proportionate Share

The district shall annually calculate the proportionate share of IDEA Part B funds required to provide equitable services to eligible parentally placed private school students.

The proportionate share is determined based upon:

• Total number of eligible parentally placed private school children
• Total number of eligible children with disabilities served by the district

Only federal IDEA Part B funds are used.

The use of State and local funds is not required.

Services

Eligible students may receive special education and/or related services, as determined through the consultation process, with available proportionate share funding.

Services may include:

• Speech-language therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychological services
• Specialized instruction
• Assistive technology consultation
• Other related services determined through consultation

Below is the listing of the current services provided by Greenville County Schools after meaningful consultation with stakeholders:

• Special education services are limited to a maximum of five (5) indirect hours each school year, to include all special education and related services with the exception of speech-language therapy. Indirect services may be provided in the following manner:
  
  • Communication with school/teacher/parent via phone or e-mail
  • Student observation in private setting
  • Training of private school personnel who provide direct instruction
  • Face-to-face consultation with school/teacher/parent
• Speech/language services are limited to a maximum of one thirty-minute session of direct therapy per week at a location determined by GCS personnel on an individual basis.
• Related services are to be provided only as they enable the student to benefit from special education services.
• Supplemental training will be offered and, if requested, conducted in state-recognized private schools. Certificates of training will be provided to private school staff at completion of training.

Documentation of services

Equitable services are documented through an Individual Services Plan (ISP) for parentally placed private school children with disabilities.

Individual direct services will be maintained in the District’s documentation software program.

Indirect services will be documented in the indirect services log.

Service Plan

If a student is selected to receive PPPSC services, the district will develop an Individual Service Plan (ISP).

The Individual Service Plan (ISP) includes:

• Student information
• Disability category
• Services to be provided
• Frequency
• Duration
• Location
• Measurable goals

Parents shall be invited to participate in Individual Service Plan meetings.

The Individual Service Plan is not an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Location of Services

Services may be provided:

• At the individual private school (if at least 10 enrolled students are receiving PPPSC services and the private school allows)
• At a public school location
• Providers of consultation services are determined based on the student’s zoned school.

The district determines service locations and times following consultation.

Transportation

Transportation is provided only when necessary for the student to benefit from equitable services.

Transportation:

• Is not provided between home and the private school.
• May be provided between the private school and the service location.

Reevaluations

Students receiving equitable services shall be reevaluated in accordance with IDEA requirements.

Parents must provide informed consent before reevaluation.

Reevaluation for Students Not Receiving Services

Reevaluation and Tracking of Parentally Placed Private School Children (PPPSC)

A student who is parentally placed in a private school or home school and is eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) may remain eligible for special education even if the student is not currently receiving equitable services through an Individualized Services Plan (ISP). Although these students are not individually entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) while parentally placed, the district maintains its ongoing Child Find responsibilities, including the identification, evaluation, reevaluation, and maintenance of eligibility information for all students with disabilities attending private schools or home schools located within the district's jurisdiction.

To ensure compliance with IDEA and the district's Child Find responsibilities, the following procedures shall be implemented:

Parent Withdrawal

When a parent or guardian withdraws a student with a disability from the district to enroll the student in a private school or home school, the school registrar shall provide the parent or guardian with:

• the Considerations for Services Form, and
• the Procedural Safeguards Notice.

The registrar shall provide one copy of the completed form to the parent or guardian and forward the original documentation to the Office of Special Services.

Initial Follow-Up

Upon receipt of the documentation, Special Services shall notify the student's home school. The designated district representative shall contact the parent or guardian to discuss the availability of equitable services when:

• the parent has indicated an interest in receiving services; or
• the Considerations for Services Form was not completed at the time of withdrawal.

Annual Contact and Service Plan Review

As long as the student continues to meet IDEA eligibility criteria, Special Services shall annually contact the parent or guardian to:

• determine whether the parent wishes to continue or initiate equitable services;
• review the existing Individualized Services Plan (ISP), if applicable; or
• develop a new ISP when the district determines that equitable services will be provided.

Reevaluation

The district shall continue to conduct reevaluation reviews and reevaluations, as required by IDEA, to determine the student's continued eligibility for special education and related services. Reevaluations shall be completed in accordance with federal and state timelines and procedures until the student is no longer eligible under IDEA or is no longer subject to the district's Child Find responsibilities.

Communication with Home School Families

Information regarding equitable services and the district's Child Find responsibilities shall be provided to the district's designated home school contact.. The designated contact shall share this information with parents or guardians of students who are registered and approved through the district's home school program. Homeschool families are invited to the PPPSC Consultation Meeting.

Annual Identification of Students

The district shall obtain and review annual notices provided by recognized home school associations and other available sources, as appropriate, to identify District students who are parentally placed in private or home school settings and may be eligible for services under IDEA.

Tracking and Documentation

Special Services shall maintain records for all identified Parentally Placed Private School Children (PPPSC) to support Child Find and equitable services requirements. Documentation shall include, but is not limited to:

• the number of students referred and evaluated;
• the number of students determined eligible;
• the number of students receiving equitable services;
• the status and dates of reevaluations;
• parent contacts and consultation activities; and
• Individualized Services Plans (ISPs), when applicable.

All ISPs and related documentation shall be maintained in the district's special education management system in accordance with district record retention procedures and applicable federal and state confidentiality requirements.

Transfer to Public School

If a parent enrolls the student in the public school district of residence, the student becomes entitled to:

• A Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
• An Individualized Education Program (IEP)
• Full IDEA procedural safeguards

The district of residence shall convene an IEP meeting and determine appropriate services.

Procedural Safeguards

Parents have the right to:

• Participate in evaluations
• Receive prior written notice as applicable
• Provide informed consent
• File Child Find complaints if they believe the district has not fulfilled its obligations

Parents do not have the right to due process regarding:

• The specific services selected under the proportionate share
• The amount of services provided
• Decisions regarding which students receive equitable services

Records

The district shall maintain records documenting:

• Number of children evaluated
• Number determined eligible
• Number receiving equitable services
• Types of services provided
• Consultation documentation
• Service Plans

Annual Private School Notification

Each year, the district shall notify private schools and parents regarding:

• Child Find activities
• Referral procedures
• Evaluation process
• Contact information
• Available equitable services
• Timelines

District Contact

Director of Speech Services
Greenville County Schools
Special Education Department
Peggy J. Neel
863-452-0033
pneel@greenville.k12.sc.us