San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 6159.2
Nonpublic, Nonsectarian School and Agency Services for Special Education
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
Instruction
The Governing Board recognizes its responsibility to provide a free appropriate public education to students with disabilities in accordance with law . When the District is unable to provide direct special education and/or related services to students with disabilities, the Board may enter into a contract with a nonpublic, nonsectarian school or agency (NPS/A) to meet the students’ needs consistent with the compliance local plan of the Special Education Local Plan Area.
Prior to entering into a contract to place any student in a NPS/A, the Superintendent or designee shall verify that the school or agency is certified to provide special education and related services to individuals with disabilities and complies with staff training requirements in accordance with Education Code section 56366. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall monitor, on an ongoing basis, the certification of any NPS/A with which the District has a contract to ensure that the certification has not expired.
No district student shall be placed in an NPS/A unless the student’s individualized education program (IEP) team has determined that an appropriate public education alternative does not exist and that the placement is appropriate for the student. (Education Code 56342.1)
(cf. 6159 – Individualized Education Program)
The district shall pay to the NPS/A the full amount of the tuition or fees, as applicable, for students with disabilities who are enrolled in programs or receiving services provided by the NPS/A. (Education Code 56365)
In accordance with law, any student with disabilities places in an NPS/A shall have all the rights and protections to which students with disabilities are generally entitled, including, but not limited to, procedural safeguards, due process rights, and periodic review of the student’s IEP.
(cf. 6159.1 – Procedural Safeguards and Complaints for Special Education)
During the period when any students with disabilities is placed in an NPS/A, the students IEP team shall retain responsibility for monitoring the student’s progress towards meeting the goals identified in the IEP.
The Superintendent or designee may apply to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to waive any of the requirements of Education Code 56365, 56366, 56366.3, and 56366.6. (Education Code 56366.2)
(cf. 1431 – Waivers)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
56034-56035 Definitions of nonpublic, nonsectarian school and agency
56042 Placement not to be recommended by attorney with conflict of interest
56101 Waivers
56163 Certification
56168 Responsibility for education of student in hospital or health facility school
56195.8 Adoption of policies
56342.1 Individualized education program; placement
56360-56369 Implementation of special education
56711 Computation of state aid
56740-56743 Apportionments and reports
56760 Annual budget plan; service proportions
56775.5 Reimbursement of assessment and identification costs
56836.20-56836.21 Special education funding; SELPA contracts with nonpublic nonsectarian schools
FAMILY CODE
7911-7912 Interstate compact on placement of children
GOVERNMENT CODE
7570-7587 Interagency responsibilities for providing services to children with disabilities, especially:
7572.55 Seriously emotionally disturbed child; out-of-state placement
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
362.2 Out-of-home placement for IEP
727.1 Out-of-state placement of wards of court
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
3001 Definitions
3051-3051.24 Special education; standards for related services and staff qualifications
3060-3070 Nonpublic, nonsectarian school and agency services
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1400-1487 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
300.129-300.148 Children with disabilities in private schools
COURT DECISIONS
Agostini v. Felton, (1997) 521 U.S. 203, 117 S.Ct. 1997
Management Resources:
WEB SITES
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.