Policy 7617

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
7617 DECLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES


The District will establish and implement a plan for the appropriate declassification of students with disabilities which includes:

a) The regular consideration for declassifying students when appropriate;
b) A reevaluation of the student prior to declassification; and
c) The provision of educational and support services to the student upon declassification.

Eligibility Determinations

The District must evaluate a student with a disability prior to determining that a student is no longer a student with a disability as defined in accordance with Commissioner's regulations, and the District will provide a copy of the evaluation report and the documentation of eligibility to the student's parent at no cost to the parent. The results of any reevaluations must be addressed by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) in a meeting to review and, as appropriate, revise the student's individualized education program.

Prior to the reevaluation, the District will obtain informed written parental consent unless otherwise authorized by law and/or regulation. Parental consent is not necessary if the District can demonstrate that it has taken reasonable measures to obtain that consent, and the student's parents fail to respond. The District must have a record of its attempts to obtain parental consent. Should the student's parents refuse consent for the reevaluation, the District may continue to pursue the reevaluation by using mediation or due process procedures.

The District will take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the parent understands the proceedings at the meeting of the CSE, including arranging for an interpreter for parents with deafness or whose native language is other than English.

Recommendation for Declassification

If the student has been receiving special education services, but it is determined by CSE that the student no longer needs special education services and can be placed in a regular educational program on a full-time basis, the recommendation will:

a) Identify the declassification support services, if any, to be provided to the student and/or the student's teachers; and
b) Indicate the projected date of initiation of the services, the frequency of provision of the services, and the duration of these services, provided that the services will not continue for more than one year after the student enters the full-time regular education program.

Declassification Support Services

Declassification support services means those services provided to the student or the student's teacher(s) to aid in the student's transition from special education to full-time regular education. These services are provided by persons certified or licensed in the appropriate area of service in accordance with Commissioner's regulations. These services include:

a) For the student: psychological services, social work services, speech and language improvement services, non-career counseling, and other appropriate support services; and
b) For the student's teacher(s): the assistance of supplementary school personnel and consultations with appropriate personnel.

When appropriate, the District will provide declassification support services to students who have moved from special education to a full-time regular educational program in accordance with the recommendation of the CSE.

Procedural Safeguards Notice

The District will use the procedural safeguards notice prescribed by the Commissioner of Education. The District will further ensure that the procedural safeguards notice is provided in the native language of the parent or other mode of communication used by the parent, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so. If the native language or other mode of communication of the parent is not a written language, the District will take steps to ensure that the notice is translated orally or by other means to the parent in his or her native language or other mode of communication, that the parent understands the content of the notice, and that there is written evidence that all due process procedures have been met.



Policy References:

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 USC § 1400 et seq.
34 CFR Part 300
Education Law §§ 4401-4410-a
8 NYCRR §§ 100.2(u), 100.6, 200.1(ooo), 200.2(b)(8), 200.4(b)(4), 200.4(b)(5), 200.4(c)(3), 200.4(c)(4), 200.4(d)(1) and 200.5(a)

NOTE:  Refer also to 
Policy 7222 - Diploma or Credential Options for Students with Disabilities
Policy 7641 - Transition Services



Adopted: 6/22/99
Revised: 9/6/22

Policy 7617