MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Harden

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-133, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS RELATING TO THE EDUCATION OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN; TO AMEND SECTION 37-23-137, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE NOTICE TO PARENTS WHEN EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES CONTRACT FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF A CHILD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-23-133, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-23-133. Words and terms, unless otherwise defined below, when used in Sections 37-23-1 through 37-23-159 shall be defined in the same manner as those words and terms used in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 Amendments (IDEA), applicable federal regulations and relevant court cases: (a) "Access to education records" means a review of education records or receipt of an accurate copy of an education record and a request to release a copy of any education record.

(b) "Assistive technology device" means any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.

(c) "Assistive technology service" means any service that directly assists a student with a disability in the selection, acquisition or use of an assistive technology device. The term includes:

(i) The evaluation of the needs of a student with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the student in his or her customary environment;

(ii) Purchasing, leasing or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by students with disabilities;

(iii) Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing or replacing assistive devices;

(iv) Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;

(v) Training or technical assistance for a student with a disability or, if appropriate, that student's family; and

(vi) Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education or rehabilitation services), employers or other individuals who may provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of students with disabilities.

(d) "Computer media" means any manner of maintaining information that is stored through and retrieved by a computer, including information stored on CD-ROM.

(e) "Consent" means agreement in writing from the parent of a child with a disability pertaining to the activities as required under IDEA and the Family Rights and Privacy Act. Local educational agencies shall ensure that the parent:

(i) Has been fully informed of all information relevant to the activity for which consent is required;

(ii) Understands the activity for which consent is requested; and

(iii) Understands that the granting of consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time prior to the time the activity is conducted.

(f) "Free appropriate public education" means special education and related services provided by local educational agencies that:

(i) Have been provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge;

(ii) Meet the standards of the State Department of Education;

(iii) Include an appropriate preschool, elementary, or secondary school education; and

(iv) Are provided in conformity with the individualized education program required under IDEA, applicable federal and state regulations and relevant court cases.

(g) "Education records" means those records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution specifically relating to an individual student.

(h) "Individualized education program" or "IEP" means a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in accordance with the requirements under IDEA, applicable federal and state regulations and relevant court cases.

(i) "Least restrictive environment" means to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

(j) "Parent" means a person who is legally responsible for a child's welfare or acting for the child in the absence of the legally responsible person. Parent may also mean a natural parent, a guardian, or a surrogate parent.

(k) "Personally identifiable information" means, but is not limited to:

(i) The student's name;

(ii) The name of the student's parent or parents or other family members;

(iii) The address of the student or student's family; and

(iv) A list of personal characteristics that would make the student's identity easily traceable.

(l) "Record" means any information recorded in any way, including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, computer media, video or audiotape, film, microfilm or microfiche specifically related to an individual student.

(m) "Related services" means transportation, and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services (including speech-language pathology and audiology services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, social work services, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services, except that such medical services shall be for diagnostic and evaluation purposes only) as may be required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, and includes the early identification and assessment of disabling conditions in children.

(n) "Special education" means specially designed instruction provided by local educational agencies, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings. This term also includes instruction in physical education.

(o) "Supplementary aids and services" means aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes or other education-related settings to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate in accordance with the least restrictive environment requirements under IDEA, applicable federal regulations and relevant court cases.

(p) "Transition services" means a coordinated set of activities for a student with a disability that:

(i) Is designed within an outcome-oriented process, which promotes movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation;

(ii) Is based upon the individual student's needs, taking into account the student's preferences and interests;

(iii) Includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.

SECTION 2. Section 37-23-137, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-23-137. (1) Consent shall be obtained:

(a) Prior to initial evaluation;

(b) Prior to implementation of the initial individualized educational program for a child with a disability;

(c) Prior to reevaluation, except that such consent is not required, if the local educational agency can demonstrate that it had taken reasonable measures to obtain such consent and the parent failed to respond; and

(d) Prior to the release of educational records as required under the Family Rights and Privacy Act and IDEA.

(2) If the parent of a child with a disability refuses consent for the evaluation, the local educational agency may continue to pursue an evaluation by utilizing the due process hearing procedures under IDEA, except to the extent these are not in conflict with Mississippi law relating to parental consent.

(3) Written prior notice shall be provided to the parents of the child whenever a local educational agency proposes to initiate or change or refuses to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child, or the provision of a free appropriate public education to that child.

(4) Written prior notice shall be provided in the native language of the parents, unless it clearly is not feasible to do so.

(5) Written prior notice shall include:

(a) A description of the action proposed or refused by the local educational agency;

(b) An explanation of why the local educational agency proposes or refuses to take the action;

(c) A description of any other options that the local educational agency considered and the reasons why those options were rejected;

(d) A description of any other factors that are relevant to the local educational agency's proposal or refusal;

(e) A description of each evaluation procedure, test, record, or report the local educational agency used as a basis for the proposed or refused action;

(f) A description of any factors that are relevant to the local educational agency's proposal or refusal;

(g) A statement that the parents of a child with a disability have protection under the procedural safeguards under IDEA and, if the notice is not an initial referral for evaluation, notification of an individualized educational program meeting or notice for reevaluation, the means by which a copy of a description of procedural safeguards can be obtained; and

(h) Sources for parents to contact to obtain assistance in understanding the provisions under IDEA.

(6) A copy of the procedural safeguards established by the State Department of Education shall be given to the parents upon:

(a) Initial referral for evaluation;

(b) Each notification of an individualized education program meeting;

(c) Reevaluation; and

(d) Registration of a complaint under IDEA to the State Department of Education.

(7) The State Department of Education and each local educational agency shall establish procedures to ensure parents of children with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in meetings with respect to the identification, evaluation, and education placement of the child, and the provision of a free appropriate public education of such child. Local educational agencies shall provide parents of children with disabilities an opportunity to provide input in the development of the agencies' application for funding, as required under IDEA.

(8) In conducting the evaluation, the local educational agency shall:

(a) Use a variety of assessment tools and strategies to gather relevant functional and developmental information, including information provided by the parent, that may assist in determining whether the child is a child with a disability and the content of the child's individualized education program including information related to enabling the child to be involved in and progress in the general curriculum or, for preschool children, to participate in appropriate activities;

(b) Not use any single procedure as the sole criterion for determining whether a child is a child with a disability or determining an appropriate educational program for the child; and

(c) Use technically sound instruments that may assess the relative contribution of cognitive and behavioral factors, in addition to physical or developmental factors.

(9) Each local educational agency shall ensure that:

(a) Tests and other evaluation materials used to assess a child are:

(i) Selected and administered so as not to be discriminatory on a racial or cultural basis; and

(ii) Provided and administered in the child's native language or other mode of communication, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so;

(b) Any standardized tests that are given to the child:

(i) Have been validated for the specific purpose for which they are used;

(ii) Are administered by trained and knowledgeable personnel; and

(iii) Are administered in accordance with any instructions provided by the producer of such tests;

(c) The child is assessed in all areas of suspected disability; and

(d) Assessment tools and strategies that provide relevant information that directly assist persons in determining the educational needs of the child are provided.

(10) Upon completion of administration of tests and other evaluation materials:

(a) The determination of whether the child is a child with a disability as defined under IDEA and state regulations established by the State Board of Education shall be made by a team of qualified professionals and the parent of the child and certified by a Screening Team as defined by the State Board of Education;

(b) In making such a determination of eligibility, a child shall not be determined to be a child with a disability if the determinant factor for such determination is lack of instruction in reading or math or limited English proficiency; and

(c) A copy of the evaluation report and the documentation of determination of eligibility will be given to the parent.

(11) Parents shall have an opportunity to obtain an independent educational evaluation of their child in accordance with the requirements under IDEA.

(12) An individual or entity contracting with a local educational agency shall submit a written report to the local educational agency and the parent/guardian of the child on the final findings, decisions and recommendations regarding the child resulting from the assessment, evaluation or observation. Such report and any other documentation relating to a particular child shall be maintained in the child's student file.

(13) Individuals or entities contracting to perform an assessment, evaluation or observation of a child with a local educational agency shall retain all information and records which pertain to that child sent to or received from the local educational agency.

(14) Parents and guardians shall have the right to review or receive copies of all information pertaining to their child which is collected, maintained or used by individuals or entities contracting with a local educational agency to perform an assessment, evaluation or observation of that particular child. The contracting entity or individual shall be responsible for making the information available to such parent or guardian.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.