SUPERINTENDENT OF

PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

(1)(a) Child with a disability or as used in this chapter, a student eligible for special education means a student who has been evaluated and determined to need special education because of having a disability in one of the following eligibility categories: Intellectual disability, a hearing impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment (including blindness), an emotional/behavioral disability, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, an other health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, multiple disabilities, or for students, three through eight, a developmental delay and who, because of the disability and adverse educational impact, has unique needs that cannot be addressed exclusively through education in general education classes with or without individual accommodations, and needs special education and related services.

(b) For purposes of providing a student with procedural safeguard protections identified in WAC 392-172A-05015, the term, "student eligible for special education" also includes a student whose identification, evaluation or placement is at issue.

(c) If it is determined, through an appropriate evaluation, that a student has one of the disabilities identified in ((subsection (1))) (a) of this ((section)) subsection, but only needs a related service and not special education, the student is not a student eligible for special education under this chapter. School districts and other public agencies must be aware that they have obligations under other federal and state civil rights laws and rules, including 29 U.S.C. 764, RCW 49.60.030, and 43 U.S.C. 12101 that apply to students who have a disability regardless of the student's eligibility for special education and related services.

(d) Speech and language pathology, audiology, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services, may be provided as specially designed instruction, if the student requires those therapies as specially designed instruction, and meets the eligibility requirements which include a disability, adverse educational impact and need for specially designed instruction. They are provided as a related service under WAC 392-172A-01155 when the service is required to allow the student to benefit from specially designed instruction.

(2) The terms used in subsection (1)(a) of this section are defined as follows:

(a)(i) Autism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a student's educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.

(ii) Autism does not apply if a student's educational performance is adversely affected primarily because the student has an emotional/behavioral disability, as defined in subsection (2)(e) of this section.

(iii) A student who manifests the characteristics of autism after age three could be identified as having autism if the criteria in (a)(i) of this subsection are satisfied.

(b) Deaf-blindness means concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for students with deafness or students with blindness and adversely affect a student's educational performance.

(c) Deafness means a hearing impairment that is so severe that the student is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

(d)(i) Developmental delay means a student three through eight who is experiencing developmental delays that adversely affect the student's educational performance in one or more of the following areas: Physical development, cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development or adaptive development and who demonstrates a delay on a standardized norm referenced test, with a test-retest or split-half reliability of .80 that is at least:

(A) Two standard deviations below the mean in one or more of the five developmental areas; or

(B) One and one-half standard deviations below the mean in two or more of the five developmental areas.

(ii) The five developmental areas for students with a developmental delay are:

(A) Cognitive development: Comprehending, remembering, and making sense out of one's experience. Cognitive ability is the ability to think and is often thought of in terms of intelligence;

(B) Communication development: The ability to effectively use or understand age-appropriate language, including vocabulary, grammar, and speech sounds;

(C) Physical development: Fine and/or gross motor skills requiring precise, coordinated, use of small muscles and/or motor skills used for body control such as standing, walking, balance, and climbing;

(D) Social or emotional development: The ability to develop and maintain functional interpersonal relationships and to exhibit age appropriate social and emotional behaviors; and

(E) Adaptive development: The ability to develop and exhibit age-appropriate self-help skills, including independent feeding, toileting, personal hygiene and dressing skills.

(iii) A school district is not required to adopt and use the category "developmentally delayed" for students, three through eight.

(iv) If a school district uses the category "developmentally delayed," the district must conform to both the definition and age range of three through eight, established under this section.

(v) School districts using the category "developmentally delayed," for students three through eight may also use any other eligibility category.

(vi) Students who qualify under the developmental delay eligibility category must be reevaluated before age nine and determined eligible for services under one of the other eligibility categories.

(vii) The term "developmentally delayed, birth to three years" are those infants and toddlers under three years of age who:

(A) Meet the eligibility criteria established by the state lead agency under Part C of IDEA; and

(B) Are in need of early intervention services under Part C of IDEA. Infants and toddlers who qualify for early intervention services must be evaluated prior to age three in order to determine eligibility for special education and related services.

(e)(i) Emotional/behavioral disability means a condition where the student exhibits one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a student's educational performance:

(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.

(B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.

(C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.

(ii) Emotional/behavioral disability includes schizophrenia. The term does not apply to students who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance under (e)(i) of this subsection.

(f) Hearing impairment means an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a student's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness in this section.

(g) Intellectual disability means significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

(h) Multiple disabilities means concomitant impairments, the combination of which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for one of the impairments. The term, multiple disabilities does not include deaf-blindness.

(i) Orthopedic impairment means a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a student's educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures).

(j) Other health impairment means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that:

(i) Is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome; and

(ii) Adversely affects a student's educational performance.

(k)(i) Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

(ii) Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of intellectual disability, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.

(l) Speech or language impairment means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a student's educational performance.

(m) Traumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a student's educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.

(n) Visual impairment including blindness means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a student's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness.

English learner has the meaning given the term in 20 U.S.C. Section 7801(20). The term "English learner," when used with respect to an individual, means an individual:

(1) Who is aged three through twenty-one;

(2) Who is enrolled or preparing to enroll in an elementary school or secondary school;

(3)(a) Who was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English;

(b)(i) Who is a Native American or Alaska native, or a native resident of the outlying areas; and

(ii) Who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency; or

(c) Who is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and who comes from an environment where a language other than English is dominant; and

(4) Whose difficulties in speaking, reading, writing, or understanding the English language may be sufficient to deny the individual:

(a) The ability to meet the challenging state academic standards;

(b) The ability to successfully achieve in classrooms where the language of instruction is English; or

(c) The opportunity to participate fully in society.

(1) Native language, when used with respect to an individual who is ((limited)) an English ((proficient)) learner, means the following:

(a) The language normally used by that individual, or, in the case of a student, the language normally used by the parents of the student, except as provided in (b) of this subsection.

(b) In all direct contact with a student (including evaluation of the student), the language normally used by the student in the home or learning environment.

(2) For an individual with deafness or blindness, or for an individual with no written language, the mode of communication is that normally used by the individual, such as sign language, Braille, or oral communication.

(1) ((In addition to the highly qualified requirements for teachers, pursuant to WAC 392-172A-01085,)) All school district personnel providing special education services and/or related services shall meet the following qualifications:

(a) All employees shall hold such credentials, licenses, certificates, endorsements or permits as are now or hereafter required by the professional educator standards board for the particular position of employment and shall meet such supplemental standards as may be established by the school district of employment. Supplemental standards established by a district or other public agency may exceed, but not be less than, those established by the professional educator standards board in accordance with Title 181 WAC and this section.

(b) In addition to the requirement in (a) of this subsection (((1))), all special education teachers providing, designing, supervising, monitoring or evaluating the provision of special education shall possess "substantial professional training." "Substantial professional training" as used in this section shall be evidenced by issuance of an appropriate special education endorsement on an individual teaching certificate issued by the OSPI, professional education and certification section.

(c) A teacher will be considered to meet the applicable requirements in (a) and (b) of this subsection if that teacher is participating in an alternative route to a special education certification program under which the teacher:

(d) Other certificated related services personnel providing specially designed instruction or related services as defined in this chapter, shall meet standards established under the educational staff associate rules of the professional educator standards board, as now or hereafter amended.

(((d))) (e) Employees with only an early childhood special education endorsement may be assigned to programs that serve students birth through eight. Preference for an early childhood special education assignment must be given first to employees having early childhood special education endorsement, but may be assigned to an individual with a special education endorsement.

(((e))) (f) Certified and/or classified staff assigned to provide instruction in Braille, the use of Braille, or the production of Braille must demonstrate competency with grade two standard literary Braille code by successful completion of a test approved by the professional educator standards board pursuant to WAC 181-82-130.

(((f))) (g) Certified and/or classified staff assigned as educational interpreters, must meet the performance standards outlined in RCW 28A.410.271 by passing an educational interpreter assessment approved by the professional educator standards board.

(h) Paraprofessional staff and aides shall present evidence of skills and knowledge established under the rules of the professional educator standards board, necessary to meet the needs of students eligible for special education, and shall be under the supervision of a certificated teacher with a special education endorsement, or a certificated educational staff associate or a licensed staff, as provided in (((g))) (i) of this subsection. Paraprofessional staff ((in)) assigned to Title 1 school-wide programs shall also meet ESEA standards for paraprofessionals((. Districts shall have procedures that ensure that classified staff receive training to meet state recommended core competencies pursuant to RCW 28A.415.310)).

(((g))) (i) Special education and related services must be provided by appropriately qualified staff. Other staff including general education teachers and paraprofessionals may assist in the provision of special education and related services, provided that the instruction is designed and supervised by special education certificated staff, or for related services by a certificated educational staff associate. Student progress must be monitored and evaluated by special education certificated staff or for related services, a certificated educational staff associate.

(2) School districts must take measurable steps to recruit, hire, train, and retain ((highly qualified)) personnel, who meet the applicable requirements described in subsection (1)(a) of this section, to provide special education and related services to students eligible for special education. There may be occasions when, despite efforts to hire or retain ((highly qualified)) teachers who meet the applicable requirements, they are unable to do so. The following options are available in these situations:

(a) Teachers who meet state board criteria pursuant to WAC 181-82-110(3) as now or hereafter amended, are eligible for a preendorsement waiver. Application for the special education preendorsement waiver shall be made to the special education section at the OSPI.

(b) In order to temporarily assign a classroom teacher without a special education endorsement to a special education position, the district or other public agency must keep written documentation on the following:

(i) The school district must make one or more of the following factual determinations:

(A) The district or other public agency was unable to recruit a teacher with the proper endorsement who was qualified for the position;

(B) The need for a teacher with such an endorsement could not have been reasonably anticipated and the recruitment of such a classroom teacher at the time of assignment was not reasonably practicable; and/or

(C) The reassignment of another teacher within the district or other public agency with the appropriate endorsement to such assignment would be unreasonably disruptive to the current assignments of other classroom teachers or would have an adverse effect on the educational program of the students assigned such other classroom teachers.

(ii) Upon determination by a school district that one or more of these criteria can be documented, and the district determines that a teacher has the competencies to be an effective special education teacher but does not have endorsement in special education, the district can so assign the teacher to special education. The school district is responsible for determining that the assigned teacher ((so assigned)) must have completed nine quarter hours (six semester hours) ((or nine quarter hours)) of course work ((which are)) applicable to an endorsement in special education. ((The following requirements apply:))

(A) A designated representative of the district and any such teacher shall mutually develop a written plan which provides for necessary assistance to the teacher, and which provides for a reasonable amount of planning and study time associated specifically with the out-of-endorsement assignment;

(B) Such teachers shall not be subject to nonrenewal or probation based on evaluations of their teaching effectiveness in the out-of-endorsement assignments; and

(C) Such teaching assignments shall be approved by a formal vote of the local school board for each teacher so assigned((; and

(D) The assignment of such teachers for the previous school year shall be reported annually to the professional educator standards board by the employing school district as required by WAC 180-16-195)).

(3) Teachers placed under the options described in subsection (2) of this section do not meet the definition of ((highly qualified)) substantial professional training.

(4) Notwithstanding any other individual right of action that a parent or student may maintain under this chapter, nothing in this section shall be construed to create a right of action on behalf of an individual student or a class of students for the failure of a particular school district employee ((be highly qualified)) to meet the applicable requirements described in subsection (1)(a) of this section, or to prevent a parent from filing a state complaint about staff qualifications with the OSPI under WAC 392-172A-05025 through 392-172A-05040.

(5) School districts and other public agencies that are recipients of funding under Part B of the act must make positive efforts to employ, and advance in employment, qualified individuals with disabilities in programs assisted under Part B of the act.

(1) Methods. Transportation options for students eligible for special education shall include the following categories and shall be exercised in the following sequence:

(a) A scheduled school bus;

(b) Contracted transportation, including public transportation; and

(c) Other transportation arrangements, including that provided by parents. Board and room cost in lieu of transportation may be provided whenever the above stated transportation options are not feasible because of the need(s) of the student or because of the unavailability of adequate means of transportation, in accordance with rules of the superintendent of public instruction.

(2) Welfare of the student. The transportation of the student shall be in accordance with ((rules of the OSPI governing transportation by public school districts)) chapters 392-143, 392-144, and 392-145 WAC.

(3) Bus aides and drivers. Training and supervision of bus aides and drivers shall be the responsibility of the school district.

(4) Special equipment. Special equipment may include lifts, wheelchair holders, restraints, and two-way radios. All such special equipment shall comply with specifications contained in the specifications for school buses as now or hereafter established by the OSPI.

(5) Transportation time on bus. Wherever reasonably possible, no student should be required to ride more than sixty minutes one way.

(6) Transportation for state residential school students to and from the residential school and the sites of the educational program shall be the responsibility of the department of social and health services and each state residential school pursuant to law.

(7) Transportation for a state residential school student, including students attending the state school for the deaf and the state school for the blind, to and from such school and the residency of such student shall be the responsibility of the district of residency only if the student's placement was made by such district or other public agency pursuant to an interagency agreement—i.e., an appropriate placement in the least restrictive environment.

Home or hospital instruction shall be provided to students eligible for special education and other students who are unable to attend school for an estimated period of four weeks or more because of disability or illness. As a condition to such services, the parent of a student shall request the services and provide a written statement to the school district from a qualified medical practitioner that states the student will not be able to attend school for an estimated period of at least four weeks. A student who is not determined eligible for special education, but who qualifies pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed "disabled" only for the purpose of home/hospital instructional services and funding and may not otherwise qualify as a student eligible for special education for the purposes of generating state or federal special education funds. A school district shall not pay for the cost of the statement from a qualified medical practitioner for the purposes of qualifying a student for home/hospital instructional services pursuant to this section.

Home/hospital instructional services funded in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be used for the initial or ongoing delivery of services to students eligible for special education((. It)) in a homebound placement pursuant to a student's individualized education program. Home/hospital instruction shall be limited to services necessary to provide temporary intervention as a result of a physical disability or illness.

(1) A school district must ensure that a reevaluation of each student eligible for special education is conducted in accordance with WAC 392-172A-03020 through 392-172A-03080 when:

(a) The school district determines that the educational or related services needs, including improved academic achievement and functional performance, of the student warrant a reevaluation; or

(b) If the child's parent or teacher requests a reevaluation.

(2) A reevaluation conducted under subsection (1) of this section:

(a) May occur not more than once a year, unless the parent and the school district agree otherwise; and

(b) Must occur at least once every three years, unless the parent and the school district agree that a reevaluation is unnecessary.

(3) Reevaluations shall be completed within:

(a) Thirty-five school days after the date written consent for an evaluation has been provided to the school district by the parent;

(b) Thirty-five school days after the date the refusal of the parent was overridden through due process procedures or agreed to using mediation; or

(c) Such other time period as may be agreed to by the parent and documented by the school district, ((within the time frames in subsection (2) of this section)) including specifying the reasons for extending the timeline.

(1) At the beginning of each school year, each school district must have an IEP in effect for each student eligible for special education that it is serving through enrollment in the district.

(2) For an initial IEP, a school district must ensure that:

(a) The school district holds a meeting to develop the student's IEP within thirty days of a determination that the student is eligible for special education and related services; and

(b) As soon as possible following development of the IEP, special education and related services are made available to the student in accordance with the student's IEP.

(3) Each school district must ensure that:

(a) The student's IEP is accessible to each general education teacher, special education teacher, related services provider, and any other service provider who is responsible for its implementation; and

(b) Each teacher and provider described in (a) of this subsection is informed of:

(i) His or her specific responsibilities related to implementing the student's IEP; and

(ii) The specific accommodations, modifications, and supports that must be provided for the student in accordance with the IEP.

(4) If a student eligible for special education transfers from one school district to another school district within ((the)) Washington state and ((has)) had an IEP that was in effect ((for the current school year from)) in the previous school district, the new school district, in consultation with the parents, must provide FAPE to the student including services comparable to those described in the student's IEP, until the new school district either:

(a) Adopts the student's IEP from the previous school district; or

(b) Develops((, adopts,)) and implements a new IEP that meets the applicable requirements in WAC 392-172A-03090 through 392-172A-03110.

(5) If a student eligible for special education transfers from a school district located in another state to a school district within ((the)) Washington state and ((has)) had an IEP that ((is)) was in effect ((for the current school year from)) in the previous school district, the new school district, in consultation with the parents, must provide FAPE to the student including services comparable to those described in the student's IEP, until the new school district:

(a) Conducts an evaluation to determine whether the student is eligible for special education services in ((this)) Washington state, if the school district determines an evaluation is necessary to establish eligibility requirements under Washington state standards; and

(b) Develops((, adopts,)) and implements a new IEP, if appropriate, that meets the applicable requirements in WAC 392-172A-03090 through 392-172A-03110.

(6) To facilitate the transition for a student described in subsections (4) and (5) of this section:

(a) The new school in which the student enrolls must take reasonable steps to promptly obtain the student's records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education or related services to the student, from the school district in which the student was previously enrolled, pursuant to RCW 28A.225.330 and consistent with applicable Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements; and

(b) The school district in which the student was enrolled must take reasonable steps to promptly respond to the request from the new school district, pursuant to RCW 28A.225.330 and applicable FERPA requirements.

(1) The services provided to parentally placed private school students eligible for special education must be provided by personnel meeting the same standards as personnel providing services in the public schools((, except that private elementary school and secondary school teachers who are providing equitable services to parentally placed private school students eligible for special education do not have to meet the highly qualified special education teacher requirements)).

(2) Parentally placed private school students eligible for special education may receive a different amount of services than students eligible for special education attending public schools.

(3) Each parentally placed private school student eligible for special education who has been designated to receive services must have a services plan that describes the specific special education and related services that the school district will provide in light of the services that the school district has determined, it will make available to parentally placed private school students eligible for special education.

(4) The services plan must, to the extent appropriate:

(a) Meet the requirements of WAC 392-172A-03090, with respect to the services provided; and

(b) Be developed, reviewed, and revised consistent with WAC 392-172A-03090 through 392-172A-03110.

(5) The provision of services must be provided:

(a) By employees of a school district or ESD; or

(b) Through contract by the school district with an individual, association, agency, organization, or other entity.

(6) Special education and related services provided to parentally placed private school students eligible for special education, including materials and equipment, must be secular, neutral, and nonideological.

(1) A school district that places a student eligible for special education with a nonpublic agency or with another private or public agency under WAC 392-172A-04080(2) for special education and related services shall develop a written contract or interdistrict agreement which will include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

(a) The names of the parties involved;

(b) The name(s) of the student(s);

(c) The location(s) and setting(s) of the services to be provided;

(d) A description of services provided, program administration and supervision;

(e) The charges and reimbursement including billing and payment procedures;

(f) The total contract cost;

(g) Any other contractual elements including those identified in WAC 392-121-188 that may be necessary to assure compliance with state and federal rules.

(2) Each school district must ensure that a student eligible for special education services placed in or referred to a nonpublic agency under WAC 392-172A-04080(1) or with another private or public agency under WAC 392-172A-04080(2) is provided special education and related services:

(a) In conformance with an IEP developed by the school district that meets the requirements of this chapter; and

(b) At no cost to the parents.

(3) The student shall be provided with a FAPE((, except that the certificated teachers, including those with a special education endorsement, do not have to meet the highly qualified standards for core academic content areas under WAC 392-172A-01085)).

(4) The school district remains responsible for evaluations and IEP meetings for the student. If the school district requests that the nonpublic agency conduct evaluations or IEP meetings, the school district will ensure that all applicable requirements of Part B of the act are met.

(5) The student has all of the rights of a student eligible for special education who is served within the school district.

(((1))) The parents of a student eligible for special education must be afforded an opportunity to inspect and review all education records. Inspection and review of education records is provided consistent with WAC 392-172A-05180 through 392-172A-05245.

(1)(a) The parents of a student eligible for special education must be afforded an opportunity to participate in meetings with respect to the identification, evaluation, educational placement and the provision of FAPE to the student.

(b) Each school district must provide notice consistent with WAC 392-172A-03100 (1) and (3) to ensure that parents of students eligible for special education have the opportunity to participate in meetings described in (a) of this subsection.

(c) A meeting does not include informal or unscheduled conversations involving school district personnel and conversations on issues such as teaching methodology, lesson plans, or coordination of service provision. A meeting also does not include preparatory activities that school district personnel engage in to develop a proposal or response to a parent proposal that will be discussed at a later meeting.

(2)(a) Each school district must ensure that a parent of each student eligible for special education is a member of any group that makes decisions on the educational placement of the parent's child.

(b) In implementing the requirements of (a) of this subsection, the school district must use procedures consistent with the procedures described in WAC 392-172A-03100 (1) through (3).

(c) If neither parent can participate in a meeting in which a decision is to be made relating to the educational placement of their child, the school district must use other methods to ensure their participation, including individual or conference telephone calls, or video conferencing.

(d) A placement decision may be made by a group without the involvement of a parent, if the school district is unable to obtain the parent's participation in the decision. In this case, the school district must have a record of its attempt to ensure their involvement.

(3) When conducting IEP team meetings and placement meetings and in carrying out administrative matters such as scheduling, exchange of witness lists and status conferences for due process hearing requests, the parent and the district may agree to use alternative means of meeting participation such as video conferences and conference calls.

(1) An organization or individual, including an organization or individual from another state, may file with the OSPI, special education section, a written, signed complaint that the OSPI, or a subgrantee of the OSPI((,)) including, but not limited to, an ESD, school district, or other subgrantee is violating or has violated Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or regulations implementing the act.

(2)(a) A written complaint filed with OSPI will include:

(i)(A) A statement that the agency has violated or is violating one or more requirements of Part B of IDEA including the state and federal regulations implementing the act; or

(B) A statement that the school district is not implementing a mediation agreement or a resolution agreement;

(ii) The facts on which the statement is based;

(iii) The signature and contact information, including an address of the complainant; and

(iv) The name and address of the school district, or other agency subject to the complaint.

(b) If the allegations are with respect to a specific student the information must also include:

(i) The name and address of the student, or in the case of a homeless child or youth, contact information for the student;

(ii) The name of the school the student attends and the name of the school district;

(iii) A description of the nature of the problem of the student, including the facts relating to the problem; and

(iv) A proposed resolution of the problem to the extent known and available to the party at the time the complaint is filed.

(c) The complainant must send a copy of the complaint to the agency serving the student at the same time the complainant files the complaint with OSPI. Complaints under this chapter are filed with the ((director)) assistant superintendent of special education, OSPI.

(d) The complaint must allege a violation that occurred not more than one year prior to the date that the complaint is received.

(e) The OSPI has developed a form for use by persons or organizations filing a complaint. Use of the form is not required, but the complaint must contain the elements addressed in (a) and (b) of this subsection.

The purpose of WAC 392-172A-05140 through 392-172A-05175 is to ensure that students eligible for special education services are not improperly excluded from school for disciplinary reasons and are provided services in accordance with WAC 392-172A-05145, 392-172A-05148, and 392-172A-05149. Each school district shall take steps to ensure that each employee, contractor, and other agent is knowledgeable of the disciplinary procedures to be followed for students eligible for special education and students who may be deemed to be eligible for special education, and knowledgeable of the rules and procedures contained in chapter 392-400 WAC governing discipline for all students.

(1) School personnel may consider any unique circumstances on a case-by-case basis when determining whether a change in placement, consistent with the other requirements of this section, is appropriate for a student eligible for special education services, who violates a code of student conduct.

(2)(a) School personnel may remove a student eligible for special education who violates a code of student conduct from his or her current placement to an appropriate interim alternative educational setting, another setting, or suspension, for not more than ten consecutive school days to the extent those alternatives are applied to students without disabilities under this section, and for additional removals of not more than ten consecutive school days in that same school year for separate incidents of misconduct as long as those removals do not constitute a change of placement under WAC 392-172A-05155.

(b) A school district is only required to provide services during periods of removal to a student eligible for special education who has been removed from his or her current placement for ten school days or less in that school year, if it provides services to a student without disabilities who is similarly removed. The services may be provided in an interim alternative educational setting.

(3) After a student eligible for special education has been removed from his or her current placement for ten school days in the same school year, and the removal is a change of placement under WAC 392-172A-05155, during any subsequent days of removal ((the school district must provide services to the extent required under subsection (4) of this section.

(d) A school district is only required to provide services during periods of removal to a student eligible for special education who has been removed from his or her current placement for ten school days or less in that school year, if it provides services to a student without disabilities who is similarly removed)) the student must continue to receive educational services, that provide a FAPE, so as to enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting the goals set out in the student's IEP. The student's IEP team determines appropriate services. The services may be provided in an interim alternative educational setting.

(((e))) (4) After a student eligible for special education has been removed from his or her current placement for ten school days in the same school year, if the current removal is for not more than ten consecutive school days and is not a change of placement under WAC 392-172A-05155, during any subsequent days of removals, school personnel, in consultation with at least one of the student's teachers, determine the extent to which services are needed, to enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting the goals set out in the student's IEP. The services may be provided in an interim alternative educational setting.

(1) Within ten school days of any decision to change the placement of a student eligible for special education because of a violation of a code of student conduct, the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team (as determined by the parent and the school district) must review all relevant information in the student's file, including the student's IEP, any teacher observations, and any relevant information provided by the parents to determine:

(a) If the conduct in question was caused by, or had a direct and substantial relationship to, the student's disability; or

(b) If the conduct in question was the direct result of the school district's failure to implement the IEP.

(2) The conduct must be determined to be a manifestation of the student's disability if the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team determine that a condition in subsection (1)(a) or (b) of this section was met.

If the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team determine the conduct was manifestation of the student's disability, the school district must take immediate steps to remedy those deficiencies.

If the school district, the parent, and relevant members of the student's IEP team determine the conduct to be a manifestation of the student's disability, the IEP team must either:

(1) Conduct a functional behavioral assessment, unless the school district had conducted a functional behavioral assessment before the behavior that resulted in the change of placement occurred, and implement a behavioral intervention plan for the student; or

(2) If a behavioral intervention plan already has been developed, review the behavioral intervention plan, and modify it, as necessary, to address the behavior; and

(3) Except in special circumstances as described in WAC 392-172A-05149, return the student to the placement from which the student was removed, unless the parent and the school district agree to a change of placement as part of the modification of the behavioral intervention plan.

(1) When disciplinary changes in placement exceed ten consecutive school days, and the behavior that gave rise to the violation of the school code is determined not to be a manifestation of the student's disability pursuant to WAC 392-172A-05146, school personnel may apply the relevant disciplinary procedures to students eligible for special education in the same manner and for the same duration as a district would apply discipline procedures to students without disabilities, except that services shall be provided in accordance with subsection (2) of this section.

(2) A student who is removed from the student's current placement pursuant to subsection (1) of this section must:

(a) Continue to receive educational services, that provide a FAPE, so as to enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting the goals set out in the student's IEP; and

(b) Receive, as appropriate when a student's removal is not a manifestation of the student's disability, a functional behavioral assessment, and behavioral intervention services and modifications that are designed to address the behavior violation so that it does not recur.

(3) The student's IEP team determines appropriate services.

(4) The services required may be provided in an interim alternative educational setting.

(5) The student's IEP team determines the interim alternative educational setting.

(1) School personnel may remove a student to an interim alternative educational setting for not more than forty-five school days without regard to whether the behavior is determined to be a manifestation of the student's disability, if the student:

(a) Carries a weapon to or possesses a weapon at school, on school premises, or to or at a school function under the jurisdiction of a school district;

(b) Knowingly possesses or uses illegal drugs, or sells or solicits the sale of a controlled substance, while at school, on school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction of a school district; or

(c) Has inflicted serious bodily injury upon another person while at school, on school premises, or at a school function under the jurisdiction of a school district.

(2) A student removed to an interim alternative educational setting under this section must: Continue to receive educational services that provide a FAPE, so as to enable the student to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting the goals set out in the student's IEP.

(a) The student's IEP team determines appropriate services.

(b) The student's IEP team determines the interim alternative educational setting.

(3) A student removed to an interim alternative educational setting under this section must receive a functional behavioral assessment and behavioral intervention services to the extent required in WAC 392-172A-05147 or 392-172A-05148.

(4) Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(a) Controlled substance means a drug or other substance identified under Schedules I, II, III, IV, or V in Section 202(c) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 812(c)).

(b) Illegal drug means a controlled substance; but does not include a controlled substance that is legally possessed or used under the supervision of a licensed health care professional or that is legally possessed or used under any other authority under that act or under any other provision of federal law.

(c) Serious bodily injury has the meaning given the term "serious bodily injury" under Section 1365 (h)(3) of Title 18, U.S.C.

(d) Weapon has the meaning given the term "dangerous weapon" under Section 930 (g)(2) of Title 18, U.S.C.

((The student's IEP team determines the interim alternative educational setting for services under WAC 392-172A-05145 (3), (4)(f) and (7).)) On the date on which the decision is made to make a removal that constitutes a change of placement of a student eligible for special education because of a violation of a code of student conduct, the school district must notify the parents of that decision, and provide the parents the procedural safeguards notice.

(1) The parent of a student eligible for special education who disagrees with any decision regarding placement under WAC 392-172A-05145 and 392-172A-05155, or the manifestation determination under WAC ((392-172A-05145(5))) 392-172A-05146, or a school district that believes that maintaining the current placement of the student is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or others, may appeal the decision by requesting a due process hearing. The hearing is requested by filing a due process hearing request pursuant to WAC 392-172A-05080 and 392-172A-05085.

(2)(a) An administrative law judge under WAC 392-172A-05095 hears, and makes a determination regarding an appeal under subsection (1) of this section.

(b) In making the determination under (a) of this subsection, the administrative law judge may:

(i) Return the student to the placement from which the student was removed if the administrative law judge determines that the removal was a violation of WAC 392-172A-05145 through 392-172A-05155 or that the student's behavior was a manifestation of the student's disability; or

(ii) Order a change of placement of the student to an appropriate interim alternative educational setting for not more than forty-five school days if the administrative law judge determines that maintaining the current placement of the student is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or to others.

(c) The procedures under subsection (1) of this section and (b) of this subsection may be repeated, if the school district believes that returning the student to the original placement is substantially likely to result in injury to the student or to others.

(3) Whenever a hearing is requested under subsection (1) of this section, the parents and the school district involved in the dispute must have an opportunity for an impartial due process hearing consistent with the requirements of WAC 392-172A-05080 through 392-172A-05090 and 392-172A-05100 through 392-172A-05110, except:

(a) The due process hearing must be expedited, and must occur within twenty school days of the date the due process hearing request is filed. The administrative law judge must make a determination within ten school days after the hearing.

(b) Unless the parents and school district agree in writing to waive the resolution meeting described in (b)(i) of this subsection, or agree to use the mediation process:

(i) A resolution meeting must occur within seven days of receiving notice of the due process hearing request; and

(ii) The due process hearing may proceed unless the matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties within fifteen days of the receipt of the due process hearing request.

(4) The administrative hearing decisions on expedited due process hearings may be appealed, by initiating a civil action consistent with WAC 392-172A-05115.

When either the parent or the school district requests a due process hearing, the student must remain in the interim alternative educational setting pending the decision of the administrative law judge or until the expiration of the time period specified in WAC ((392-172A-05145 (3) or (7))) 392-172A-05148 or 392-172A-05149, whichever occurs first, unless the parent and the school district agree otherwise.

(1) A student who has not been determined to be eligible for special education and related services under this chapter and who has engaged in behavior that violated a code of student conduct, may assert any of the protections provided for in this chapter if the school district had knowledge as determined in accordance with subsection (2) of this section that the student was a student eligible for special education before the behavior that precipitated the disciplinary action occurred.

(2) Basis of knowledge. A school district must be deemed to have knowledge that a student is eligible for special education if before the behavior that precipitated the disciplinary action occurred:

(a) The parent of the student expressed concern in writing to supervisory or administrative personnel of the appropriate educational agency, or a teacher of the student, that the student is in need of special education and related services;

(b) The parent of the student requested an evaluation of the student pursuant to WAC 392-172A-03005; or

(c) The teacher of the student, or other personnel of the school district, expressed specific concerns about a pattern of behavior demonstrated by the student directly to the director of special education or to other supervisory personnel of the school district.

(3) A school district would not be deemed to have knowledge under subsection (2) of this section if:

(a) The parent of the student:

(i) Has not allowed an evaluation of the student pursuant to WAC 392-172A-03000 through 392-172A-03080; or

(ii) Has refused services under this chapter; or

(b) The student has been evaluated in accordance with WAC 392-172A-03005 through 392-172A-03080 and determined to not be eligible for special education and related services under this part.

(4)(a) If a school district does not have knowledge that a student is eligible for special education prior to taking disciplinary measures against the student, the student may be disciplined using the same disciplinary measures applied to students without disabilities who engage in comparable behaviors consistent with (b) of this subsection.

(b)(i) If a request is made for an evaluation of a student during the time period in which the student is subjected to disciplinary measures under WAC 392-172A-05145, 392-172A-05148, or 392-172A-05149 the evaluation must be conducted in an expedited manner.

(ii) Until the evaluation is completed, the student remains in the educational placement determined by school authorities, which can include suspension or expulsion ((without educational services)).

(iii) If the student is determined to be eligible for special education services, taking into consideration information from the evaluation conducted by the school district and information provided by the parents, the agency must provide special education and related services in accordance with this chapter and follow the discipline requirements, including the provision of a free appropriate public education for students suspended or expelled from school.

(1) Parents of students eligible for special education have rights regarding the protection of the confidentiality of any personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained under WAC 392-172A-05180 through 392-172A-05240, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, state laws contained in Title 28A RCW that address personally identifiable information, regulations implementing state law, and Part B of IDEA.

(2) State forms, procedural safeguards and parent handbooks regarding special education are available in ((Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Khmer, Ukrainian, Somali, and Korean)) multiple languages, and alternate formats ((on)) upon request.

(3) Personally identifiable information about students for use by the OSPI, special education section, may be contained in state complaints, due process hearing requests and decisions, monitoring, safety net applications, and mediation agreements. The state may also receive personally identifiable information as a result of grant evaluation performance. This information is removed before forwarding information to other agencies or individuals requesting the information, unless the parent or adult student consents to release the information or the information is allowed to be released without parent consent under the regulations implementing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 34 C.F.R. Part 99.

(4) School districts are responsible for child find activities for students who may be eligible for special education. If the state were to conduct any major identification, location, or evaluation activity, the state would publish notices in newspapers with circulation adequate to notify parents throughout the state of the activity, notify school districts and post information on its web site.

(1) A school district may use funds received under Part B of the act for any fiscal year to carry out a school wide program under ((section 1114 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965)) 20 U.S.C. Section 6314, except that the amount used in any school wide program may not exceed:

(a) The amount received by the school district under Part B for that fiscal year; divided by the number of students eligible for special education in the jurisdiction; multiplied by

(b) The number of students eligible for special education participating in the school wide program.

(2) The funds described in subsection (1) of this section may be used without regard to WAC 392-172A-06010 (1)(a).

(3) The funds described in subsection (1) of this section must be considered as federal Part B funds for purposes of the calculations in WAC 392-172A-06015(2).

(4) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, all other requirements of Part B must be met, including ensuring that students eligible for special education in school wide program schools:

(a) Receive services in accordance with a properly developed IEP; and

(b) Are afforded all of the rights and services guaranteed to students eligible for special education under the IDEA.

The school district must cooperate in the secretary's efforts under ((section 1308 of the ESEA)) 20 U.S.C. Section 6398 to ensure the linkage of records pertaining to migratory students eligible for special education for the purpose of electronically exchanging, among the states, health and educational information regarding those students.

The OSPI reports to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education ((no later than February 1 of each year)) annually as required by the office of special education programs the number of students aged three through twenty-one residing in the state who are receiving special education and related services. This report is based on the school districts' annual federal count of eligible students provided to OSPI on a date selected by OSPI between October 1st and December 1st of each year.

(1) Information required in the report includes:

(a) The number of students receiving special education and related services;

(b) The number of students aged three through five receiving special education and related services;

(c) The number of students aged six through seventeen, and eighteen through twenty-one within each disability category; and

(d) The number of students aged three through twenty-one for each year of age (three, four, five, etc.).

(2) For the purpose of this part, a student's age is the student's actual age on the date of the child count.

(3) A student may not be reported under more than one disability category.

(4) If a special education student has more than one disability, the student is reported as follows:

(a) A student with deaf-blindness and not reported as having a developmental delay must be reported under the category "deaf-blindness."

(b) A student who has more than one disability (other than deaf-blindness or developmental delay) must be reported under the category "multiple disabilities."

(5) School districts must provide OSPI a certification signed by an authorized official of the district, stating that the information provided by the district is an accurate and unduplicated count of special education students receiving special education and related services on the dates in question.