Bill > H0465

This bill aims to enhance the rights and services for exceptional students, which refers to students with disabilities who require specialized educational support. It clarifies that parents have the right to bring any adult of their choice to meetings with school district personnel regarding their child's education, including meetings about eligibility for exceptional student education (ESE) or related services, and the development of plans like the Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 accommodation plan. The bill also establishes specific terms for describing instructional settings for students with disabilities, such as "exceptional student education center" for separate schools, "regular class" for settings where students spend 80% or more of their week with non-disabled peers, and "inclusion" to describe a student being a valued member of a general education classroom with appropriate supports. Furthermore, it mandates the use of separate parental consent forms for specific actions within a student's IEP, such as alternate assessments or placement in an ESE center, and requires school districts to document reasonable efforts to obtain parental consent before proceeding without it, unless a due process hearing is held. The bill also encourages collaboration between public school personnel and private instructional personnel, such as therapists and psychologists, to support student progress without replacing the school's primary responsibility for providing a free and appropriate public education. Finally, it introduces a continuing education requirement for educators seeking to renew their professional certificates, mandating at least one college credit or equivalent inservice points in teaching students with disabilities, with exemptions for those already certified or with relevant coursework.