Bill > S0072

This bill introduces new requirements for school districts in Florida regarding Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for students with disabilities, aiming to improve service delivery and parental engagement. The legislation mandates that school districts complete an initial evaluation to determine a student's IEP eligibility within 60 calendar days of parental consent and convene an IEP team meeting within 30 calendar days after eligibility determination. If a related service specified in an IEP is not provided as scheduled, the district must notify parents in writing within 5 school days, explaining the reason for the missed service and providing a written plan for make-up services. Parents will have the right to request and receive service provider logs or progress notes within 15 school days after services are provided. Additionally, the bill requires school districts to provide an individualized orientation to parents of students newly identified for exceptional student education services, covering procedural safeguards, parental rights and responsibilities, instructions for accessing service logs, and complaint filing procedures. The district must obtain a signed acknowledgment from parents confirming receipt of the orientation and offer annual refresher orientations, with all documentation to be retained in the student's educational records. These provisions are designed to enhance transparency, accountability, and parental involvement in the special education process.