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FairfaxTownSchool District
Special Education Independent Educational Evaluations Policy
Warned: November 27, 2003
Adopted: December 8, 2003
Policy
It is the policy of the District to grant independent evaluations under the conditions set forth in the applicable federal regulations and Vermont State Regulations (2362.2.7, August 29, 2003)
Independent Evaluations paid for by the School District:
Whenever there is a request for payment of an independent evaluation from this school district, the following criteria must be met:
- Parent/guardians, may request an independent evaluation at public expense only after the Evaluation and Planning Team has had an opportunity to complete its evaluation and issue a report. The request must be in writing to the Director of Special Services BEFORE the independent evaluation is scheduled to take place. The request must state (a) why the parent/guardians disagree with the district’s evaluation of their child, (b) what specific evaluations are being sought, (c) what they purport to show, (d) who they propose as an independent evaluator, with his/her qualifications and (e) estimated costs.
- The Director of Special Services will respond to a completed parental request for an independent evaluation within ten (10) working days of receiving the completed requests.
- The Director of Special Services will provide parent/guardians, upon request, with a list of evaluation agents/sites that meet the school district’s evaluation criteria. The parent/guardians shall inform the district of their choice BEFORE the evaluation has taken place. (Parent/guardians are not required to select an evaluator from the district’s list, but shall be informed of the district’s ability to challenge any evaluator. The criteria for the Independent Evaluation shall be consistent with the criteria used by the district for its evaluations.)
- When the Evaluation and Planning Team feels that its evaluation is appropriate, the district has the right to deny the parent’s request for the independent evaluation. The supervisory union may initiate a hearing to show their evaluation is appropriate.
- If approved by the Director of Special Services upon request, the independent evaluator must, upon request, provide evidence of being appropriately trained, licensed or certified to administer and interpret all tests or examinations to be administered.
- All independent evaluations shall be conducted within a sixty (60) mile radius of Fairfax, Vermont. With the written approval of the Superintendent, parent/guardians may be granted reimbursement for independent evaluations outside this area provided there is agreement that such reimbursement will be limited to the amount of a comparable evaluation within the designated area (if available within the designated area) and with agreement that reimbursement for all associated expenses (meals, room, travel) shall be limited to current rates for meals and travel as determined by the Superintendent. Franklin West Supervisory Union has set a maximum fee for an independent evaluation. The listing of such maximum fees is available at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.
- The Director of Special Services may request that the independent evaluator carry out additional and specific assessments which the Evaluation and Planning Team deems necessary to ensure the appropriateness of the child’s education.
- The results of all independent evaluations obtained at public expense shall be considered by the Evaluation and Planning Team and/or IEP meeting participants in any decision made with respect to the provision of a free appropriate public education for the student.
- The independent evaluators shall send the report of the results of the independent evaluation and, if requested by the district, all supporting data including test protocols to the Director of Special Services. No invoices shall be processed for payment until all materials noted above are received by the Director.
Individual Evaluations Paid by Parent/guardians:
If the parent obtains an independent educational evaluation at private expense and requests that the results of the evaluation be considered, it shall be considered by the Evaluation and Planning Team and/or IEP Team in any decision made with respect to the provision of a free appropriate public education to the child.
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