Students with disabilities; feasibility of educational placement transition of certain students. (HB176)

Introduced By

Del. Dickie Bell (R-Staunton) with support from co-patron Del. Les Adams (R-Chatham)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Department of Education; pilot program; feasibility of educational placement transition of certain students with disabilities. Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a pilot program in two local school divisions in the Commonwealth to partner with the appropriate school board employees in each such local school division to (i) identify the resources, services, and supports required by each student who resides in each such local school division and who is educated in a private school setting pursuant to his Individualized Education Program; (ii) study the feasibility of transitioning each such student from his private school setting to an appropriate public school setting in the local school division and providing the identified resources, services, and supports in such public school setting; and (iii) recommend a process for redirecting federal, state, and local funds, including funds provided pursuant to the Children's Services Act, provided for the education of each such student to the local school division for the purpose of providing the identified resources, services, and supports in the appropriate public school setting. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/23/2017Committee
12/23/2017Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18103937D
12/23/2017Referred to Committee on Education
01/17/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB176)
01/19/2018Assigned Education sub: Subcommittee #1
01/29/2018Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)
01/29/2018Subcommittee recommends referring to Committee on Appropriations
01/31/2018Reported from Education (21-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2018Referred to Committee on Appropriations
02/01/2018Assigned App. sub: Elementary & Secondary Education
02/07/2018Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N)
02/13/2018Left in Appropriations

Comments

Juliet Hiznay writes:

This is a very complicated proposal and it should not be undertaken lightly. In general, children should be educated in the least restrictive environment. However, shifting CSA funding to public school could have unintended consequences. Children do not attend private special education settings at public expense unless the public school program has found itself unable to provide services that meet the requirement of a free appropriate public education. Oftentimes no appropriate public setting exists because no program has been designed to meet that child's needs. Case loads are typically far higher for special educators and related services personnel in the public school setting. I am not clear on whether the funding would simply disappear into the budget or would follow the child under this pilot.