Funding for parents who are sending their blind child to private school or homeschooling?
Hello,
Does anyone know of any funding to assist parents who are sending their
blind child to private school or homeschool to get VI services,
particularly in California?
It currently looks as if the parent will need to pay for any VI services
out of pocket.
What nonprofits or grants are there to help parents in this situation?
Thank you,
Brandon Keith Biggs http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/
Unless the parent has signed a document waiving rights under IDEA (often required by charter schools in some states), then the student still has a right to receive consultation and special education and related services from/paid for by the local education agency (in the case of a private school, this is the LEA where the school is located).
See the Congressional Research Service report on IDEA and private schools, section on “Parental Private School Placement When FAPE is not an Issue” - - https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#_Toc287531188
Section copied and pasted below for easy access.
Hope this helps!
- Rebecca Sheffield
Parental Private School Placement Where FAPE Is Not at Issue
Provision of Education
Children with disabilities may be unilaterally placed in a private school by their parents in situations where the parents do not argue for tuition reimbursement. Generally, children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools are to be provided special education and related services to the extent consistent with the number and location of such children in the school district served by a LEA pursuant to several requirements.35https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn35 This general provision was changed in 2004 from previous law by the addition of the requirement that the children be located in the school district served by the LEA. In other words, the LEA responsible for implementing IDEA is the LEA in the area where the private school is located. The Senate report described this change as protecting "LEAs from having to work with private schools located in multiple jurisdictions when students attend private schools across district lines."36https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn36 Although the intent was to protect LEAs from working with private schools in multiple jurisdictions, this provision has generated considerable controversy. A detailed discussion of this issue is beyond the scope of this report; however, several of the issues raised include the disproportional effect on LEAs with large concentrations of private schools, the lack of change in the funding formula to reflect the change, and potential conflicts with state laws.37https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn37
Specific Requirements Regarding Parentally Placed Children
In addition to the general LEA responsibility discussed above, there are also five specific requirements regarding parentally placed children:
- Funds expended by the LEA, including direct services to parentally placed private school children, shall be equal to a proportionate amount of federal funds made available under part B of IDEA.
- The LEA, after timely and meaningful consultation with representatives of private schools, shall conduct a thorough and complete child find process to determine the number of children with disabilities who are parentally placed in private schools.
- Services may be provided to children on the premises of private, including religious, schools, to the extent consistent with law.
- State and local funds may supplement, but not supplant, the proportionate amount of federal funds required to be expended.
- Each LEA must maintain records and provide to the SEA the number of children evaluated, the number of children determined to have disabilities, and the number of children served under the private school provisions.38https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn38
However, although IDEA does require services to parentally placed children, it should be emphasized that no parentally placed child has an individual right to receive the services that child would receive if enrolled in the public school.39https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn39
Consultation
IDEA contains requirements concerning LEA consultation with private school officials and representatives of the parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities. This consultation is to include
- the child find process and how parentally placed private school children with disabilities can participate equitably;
- the determination of the proportionate amount of federal funds available to serve parentally placed private school children with disabilities, including how that amount was calculated;
- the consultation process among the LEA, private school officials, and representatives of parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities, including how the process will operate;
- how, where, and by whom special education and related services will be provided for parentally placed private school children with disabilities, including a discussion of the types of services (including direct services and alternate service delivery mechanisms), how the services will be apportioned if there are insufficient funds to serve all children, and how and when these decisions will be made; and
- how the LEA shall provide a written explanation to private school officials of the reasons why the LEA chose not to provide services if the LEA and private school officials disagree.40https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn40
A written affirmation of the consultation signed by the representatives of the participating private schools is required by the law. If the private school representatives do not sign within a reasonable period of time, the LEA shall forward the documentation to the SEA.41https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn41
A private school official has the right to submit a complaint to the SEA alleging that the LEA did not engage in meaningful and timely consultation or did not give due consideration to the views of the private school official. If a private school official submits a complaint, he or she must provide the basis of the noncompliance to the SEA, and the LEA must forward the appropriate documentation. If the private school official is dissatisfied with the SEA's determination, he or she may submit a complaint to the Secretary of Education, and the SEA shall forward the appropriate documentation to the Secretary.42https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn42 The general IDEA due process procedures are not applicable for children parentally placed in private schools where FAPE is not an issue except where the complaint concerns child find.43https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn43
Sent from my iPad
On Nov 10, 2017, at 7:05 PM, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs@gmail.commailto:brandonkeithbiggs@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
Does anyone know of any funding to assist parents who are sending their blind child to private school or homeschool to get VI services, particularly in California?
It currently looks as if the parent will need to pay for any VI services out of pocket.
What nonprofits or grants are there to help parents in this situation?
Thank you,
Brandon Keith Biggshttp://brandonkeithbiggs.com/
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This is exactly as I remember it from having served a student who was blind and attended a parochial school. Bill
From: AERNet [mailto:aernet-bounces@lists.aerbvi.org] On Behalf Of Rebecca Sheffield
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2017 6:51 PM
To: Brandon Keith Biggs brandonkeithbiggs@gmail.com
Cc: aernet@lists.aerbvi.org
Subject: Re: [AERNet] Funding for parents who are sending their blind child to private school or homeschooling?
Unless the parent has signed a document waiving rights under IDEA (often required by charter schools in some states), then the student still has a right to receive consultation and special education and related services from/paid for by the local education agency (in the case of a private school, this is the LEA where the school is located).
See the Congressional Research Service report on IDEA and private schools, section on “Parental Private School Placement When FAPE is not an Issue” - - https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#_Toc287531188
Section copied and pasted below for easy access.
Hope this helps!
- Rebecca Sheffield
Parental Private School Placement Where FAPE Is Not at Issue
Provision of Education
Children with disabilities may be unilaterally placed in a private school by their parents in situations where the parents do not argue for tuition reimbursement. Generally, children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools are to be provided special education and related services to the extent consistent with the number and location of such children in the school district served by a LEA pursuant to several requirements.35https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn35 This general provision was changed in 2004 from previous law by the addition of the requirement that the children be located in the school district served by the LEA. In other words, the LEA responsible for implementing IDEA is the LEA in the area where the private school is located. The Senate report described this change as protecting "LEAs from having to work with private schools located in multiple jurisdictions when students attend private schools across district lines."36https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn36 Although the intent was to protect LEAs from working with private schools in multiple jurisdictions, this provision has generated considerable controversy. A detailed discussion of this issue is beyond the scope of this report; however, several of the issues raised include the disproportional effect on LEAs with large concentrations of private schools, the lack of change in the funding formula to reflect the change, and potential conflicts with state laws.37https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn37
Specific Requirements Regarding Parentally Placed Children
In addition to the general LEA responsibility discussed above, there are also five specific requirements regarding parentally placed children:
- Funds expended by the LEA, including direct services to parentally placed private school children, shall be equal to a proportionate amount of federal funds made available under part B of IDEA.
- The LEA, after timely and meaningful consultation with representatives of private schools, shall conduct a thorough and complete child find process to determine the number of children with disabilities who are parentally placed in private schools.
- Services may be provided to children on the premises of private, including religious, schools, to the extent consistent with law.
- State and local funds may supplement, but not supplant, the proportionate amount of federal funds required to be expended.
- Each LEA must maintain records and provide to the SEA the number of children evaluated, the number of children determined to have disabilities, and the number of children served under the private school provisions.38https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn38
However, although IDEA does require services to parentally placed children, it should be emphasized that no parentally placed child has an individual right to receive the services that child would receive if enrolled in the public school.39https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn39
Consultation
IDEA contains requirements concerning LEA consultation with private school officials and representatives of the parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities. This consultation is to include
- the child find process and how parentally placed private school children with disabilities can participate equitably;
- the determination of the proportionate amount of federal funds available to serve parentally placed private school children with disabilities, including how that amount was calculated;
- the consultation process among the LEA, private school officials, and representatives of parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities, including how the process will operate;
- how, where, and by whom special education and related services will be provided for parentally placed private school children with disabilities, including a discussion of the types of services (including direct services and alternate service delivery mechanisms), how the services will be apportioned if there are insufficient funds to serve all children, and how and when these decisions will be made; and
- how the LEA shall provide a written explanation to private school officials of the reasons why the LEA chose not to provide services if the LEA and private school officials disagree.40https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn40
A written affirmation of the consultation signed by the representatives of the participating private schools is required by the law. If the private school representatives do not sign within a reasonable period of time, the LEA shall forward the documentation to the SEA.41https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn41
A private school official has the right to submit a complaint to the SEA alleging that the LEA did not engage in meaningful and timely consultation or did not give due consideration to the views of the private school official. If a private school official submits a complaint, he or she must provide the basis of the noncompliance to the SEA, and the LEA must forward the appropriate documentation. If the private school official is dissatisfied with the SEA's determination, he or she may submit a complaint to the Secretary of Education, and the SEA shall forward the appropriate documentation to the Secretary.42https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn42 The general IDEA due process procedures are not applicable for children parentally placed in private schools where FAPE is not an issue except where the complaint concerns child find.43https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R41678.html#fn43
Sent from my iPad
On Nov 10, 2017, at 7:05 PM, Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs@gmail.commailto:brandonkeithbiggs@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
Does anyone know of any funding to assist parents who are sending their blind child to private school or homeschool to get VI services, particularly in California?
It currently looks as if the parent will need to pay for any VI services out of pocket.
What nonprofits or grants are there to help parents in this situation?
Thank you,
Brandon Keith Biggshttp://brandonkeithbiggs.com/
You are subscribed to AERNet, The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Listserv.
To post a message to all the list members, send an email to aernet@lists.aerbvi.orgmailto:aernet@lists.aerbvi.org.
Address list requests to: aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.orgmailto:aernet-request@lists.aerbvi.org
To unsubscribe from this list, go to http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org and follow instructions to unsubscribe. Go to the same address to access the list archives.
AERNet mailing list
AERNet@lists.aerbvi.orgmailto:AERNet@lists.aerbvi.org
http://lists.aerbvi.org/mailman/listinfo/aernet_lists.aerbvi.org