Diocese of Covington - Education at PO Box 15550, Covington, KY 41015-0550 US - Inclusive Education Policies

Policies:

Inclusion of Children with Exceptional Educational Needs—P6510 See Guideline

Children with exceptional educational needs requiring special modifications or accommodations will be included in the educational program of a school unless it is determined, after a thorough review as outlined in guideline G6510, that their needs cannot be adequately met.—(9-94, 3-00, 6-07)

Inclusion of Children with Exceptional Educational Needs-Procedures—P6512

Schools are responsible for developing specific procedures for including students with exceptional needs. These procedures must be published yearly in school communications, for example, handbooks, websites, letters to families etc.—(6-07)

Inclusion of Children with Exceptional Educational Needs-Resources—P6514

Schools are responsible for providing teachers with appropriate resources and training so differentiated instruction can be offered to meet the needs of exceptional learners enrolled in the school.—(6-07)

Instructional Services-Individual and Remedial Services—P6520

When an enrolled student needs individual or remedial services other than those that can be provided in the school program, application for such assistance shall be made by the parents (guardians) and/or administrator to an agency or school that provides the appropriate special services. (9-69, 6-81, 2-88, 9-94, 7-99, 6-07)

Instructional Services—P6530

The Department of Catholic Schools shall be informed when a special education program is being developed or implemented.—(9-84, 3-87, 9-94, 7-99, 6-07)

Instructional Services--Special Religious Education--Identification and Services—P6536

Parishes shall identify those members in need of special religious education and provide for their needs. (3-87, 9-94, 7-99)

GUIDELINE 6510

Inclusion of Children with Exceptional Educational Needs—G6510

The intent of Policy 6510 is to state that a child with special needs may be enrolled in a school of the Diocese of Covington, provided that the school foresees that it can adequately address the needs of the child using the resources at its disposal. However, if the school decides that enrollment is not in the best interests of the child, or if the parents or guardians withdraw the child from the school, the public school district is, by law, responsible for providing a free, appropriate education and educational services to all children who reside in the district.

In addressing a request to enroll a child with special needs, the principal should consider the needs of the child, the resources available to the school and the educational welfare of all students enrolled in the school. To assist school officials and parents or guardians in determining whether the school can provide an adequate and appropriate educational program, the following enrollment and placement process is recommended:

1. The principal and/or designated staff assistant(s) may review the previous educational records and reports of the child, including educational tests and medical, psychological and other such applicable reports;

2. the principal and/or designated staff assistant(s) may ask to review statements of condition from previous teachers, educational administrators, medical personnel, etc.;

3. after reviewing the records, reports, etc., the principal and/or staff assistant(s) should convene an admissions and review committee, consisting of the principal, designated staff assistant(s), parents or guardians and other appropriate professionals;

4. the admissions and review committee should meet to discuss the exceptional educational needs of the child and what (if any) adaptations the school and staff can reasonably be expected to make in order to meet those educational needs;

5. at the end of the assessment process the admissions and review should come to a decision to enroll/continue enrollment—on a tentative basis—or not to enroll the child/continue enrollment of the child. In either case, both the school authority and the parents or guardians should sign a written statement detailing the decision and its basis. The written statement should include the understanding that, if offered, initial enrollment is tentative and in the event the placement proves unsatisfactory or unworkable for either the school or the student, the parents or guardians will withdraw the student and seek enrollment in another school which can more adequately provide for the exceptional educational needs of the student;

6. if the student’s enrollment is begun or continued, an individual education plan (I.E.P.) should be developed at the first yearly admissions and review committee meeting. The committee should reconvene at least two more times during the academic year to review the appropriateness of the education plan, with the last meeting scheduled as an end-of-the-school-year assessment for future planning. (Appendix U and V of the federal Section 504 guidelines offer a suggested format [see attached].) At any time, and with adequate advance notice, any member of the admissions and review committee may request a review meeting, if changed or changing circumstances will affect the current placement of the student;

If the parents or guardians of the child with exceptional educational needs believe policy P6510 and its guidelines have not been properly implemented, they may appeal to the Director for Catholic Education for review and clarification. The decision of the Director shall be final.

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