KEARNY BOARD OF EDUCATION File Code: 6171.12
Kearny , New Jersey 07032
Policy
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION
PROGRAMS ACCORDING TO N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7
The Kearny Board of Education adopts the policy that:
-- An IEP will be in effect for every pupil with an educational disability at the beginning of each school year.
-- Before the district places a pupil with educational disabilities in, or refers a pupil to, a
private school, the district shall initiate and conduct an IEP meeting.
-- A representative of the private school participate in the IEP meeting. When the representative cannot attend, the district ensures that other methods to ensure
participation, including telephone calls are used.
-- After a pupil with educational disabilities enters a private school, an IEP meeting shall
be initiated and conducted by the district board and parents and the representatives of
the private school shall attend.
-- The district board of education shall initiate and conduct meetings to develop, review
and revise the IEP of a pupil with educational disabilities who is enrolled in a nonpublic
school according to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-6.1 and 6.2.
-- A representative of the nonpublic school attend the meeting, and if the representative
cannot attend, the district shall use other methods to ensure participation including
telephone conference calls.
-- Meetings will be conducted to develop, review and revise each IEP.
-- At least annually the pupil’s IEP shall be reviewed and revised.
-- All communication with the parent(s) shall be in the native language used for
communication by the parent(s) unless it is not feasible to do so. This shall include
providing foreign language interpreters or translators and sign language interpreters
for the deaf, at no cost to the parent(s).
-- The Kearny Board of Education shall ensure that the parent(s) receive a copy of his/her
child’s IEP.
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The procedures used to implement the above policy shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. A statement of the pupil’s eligibility for special education and/or related services.
2. A statement of current educational status which describes the pupil’s present levels of
educational performance.
3. A statement of annual goals which describes the educational performance expected to be
achieved under the pupil’s individualized education program. Annual goals shall be
related to the special education and/or regular education curriculum.
4. A statement of objectives which describes specific measurable steps between the current
educational status and the annual goals.
5. A description of the pupil’s educational program which includes:
a. A rationale for the type of educational program and placement selected.
b. An explanation of why the type of program and replacement is the least restrictive
environment appropriate in light of the pupil’s needs.
c. A description of the extent to which the pupil will participate in regular educational
program. The participation of the educationally handicapped pupil in regular
school programs or activities shall be based on the nature and extent of the pupil’s
educational needs. Appropriate curricular or instructional modifications to the
regular education program shall be stipulated. Precautionary arrangements shall
be made to protect the safety and well-being of the pupil.
d. The description of exemptions from regular education programs and state and local
graduation requirements which includes a rationale for the exemptions.
e. Reasons why the individualized education program goals and objectives do not
include the proficiencies measured by the High School Proficiency Test and the
requirement to demonstrate mastery of curriculum proficiencies for pupils
exempted from these requirements.
f. A statement of alternative requirement for each exemption from state and local
high school graduation requirements. The individualized education program shall
identify which alternate requirements must be achieved by the educationally
handicapped pupil to qualify for the State endorsed diploma issued by the school
district.
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-- The purpose of the meeting will be the consideration of transition services for a pupil
with educational disabilities age 14 or over, or younger, if appropriate, the pupil and a
representative of any other agency likely to be responsible for providing or paying for
transition services shall be invited to attend.
g. For educationally handicapped pupils age 14 or over, the Kearny Board of
Education shall demonstrate that consideration has been given to the preparation
of the pupil for the appropriate post-secondary program, work setting, adult
services or independent living.
h. A statement of and rationale for the length of time the pupil is expected to be in
a special education program including the length of the school day and an extended
academic year, when appropriate.
I. A statement specifying the language to be used for instruction if other than English.
j. A statement which describes the special education and/or related services, which
the district board of education shall be responsible to provide, including the
frequency and duration of services and the date when they will begin.
k. A statement describing the roles of specific school personnel and their
responsibilities for implementing the various aspects of the individualized education
program.
l. The criteria, procedure and schedule to determine if the pupil’s goals and objectives
are being met.
The instructional guide shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1. A planned schedule of time the pupil will be served by specialists, special education
teachers, bilingual or English as a second language teachers and regular education
teachers.
2. Instructional strategies fitted to the pupil’s learning style.
3. Techniques and activities designed to support the personal and social development
of the pupil.
4. Any special equipment and instructional media and materials needed for learning.
5. Specific descriptions of instructional responsibilities of the regular and special
education teachers.
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Meetings shall be conducted to determine eligibility and to develop, review and revise the basic plan of a pupil’s individualized education program.
1. Each meeting shall include the following participants:
a. One or both of the pupil parents;
b. Teacher(s) having knowledge of the pupil’s educational performance;
c. The pupil, if appropriate;
d. The appropriate members of the Child Study Team;
e. Referring certified school personnel, the school principal or designee and
other appropriate individuals if they choose to participate;
f. A curriculum consultant from the Department of Human Services, for those
pupils classified as eligible for day training.
2. Meetings shall be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time and place.
3. Notice of meetings shall indicate the purpose, time, location and participants.
4. If the parent(s) cannot attend the meeting(s), the chief school administrator or
designee shall attempt to ensure parental participation, including the use of
individual or conference telephone calls. Documentation shall be maintained
of all attempts to secure parental participation.
5. A meeting may be conducted without the parent(s) in attendance if the Kearny
Board of Education is unable to secure the participation of the parent(s).
Annually, or more often if necessary, the case manager, parent(s), teacher(s), the pupil, if appropriate, and other individuals at the discretion of the parent(s) or Kearny Board of Education shall meet to review the instructional guide and the basic plan of the individualized education program and determine placement as specified in N.J.A.C. 6A:14-3.7 (h).
1. The annual review shall be completed by June 30 of the handicapped pupil’s
last year in a preschool program.
2. The annual review shall be completed by June 30 of a handicapped pupil’s
last year in an elementary school program and shall include input from the
staff of the secondary school.
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Written notice to the parent(s) and parent conferences required by this chapter shall be conducted in the language used for communication by the parent and pupil unless it is not feasible to do so.
1. Foreign language interpreters or translators and sign language interpreters for
the deaf shall be provided, when necessary, by the Kearny Board of Education
at no cost to the parent(s).
2. The determination of the language or mode of communication and a written
rationale for its choice shall be documented in the pupil record.
3. If it is not feasible to translate the individualized education program or
eligibility reports into another language or mode of communication, the
professional(s) making this decision shall ensure and document that the
parent(s) is given an English language copy of the report(s) and appropriate
explanation of its contents in the language of the parent.
Documentation of these persons who participated in the development of the individualized education program shall be maintained and a copy of the individualized education program shall be provided to the parent(s) in their native language according to N.J.A.C. 6A:14-2.4.
Amended: February 28, 2000