Source: https://telioslaw.com/blog/i-statutory-overview-educational-disability-law
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:07:40+00:00

Document:
Written by Theresa Sidebotham on March 15, 2012 at 1:33 a.m.
Many children have special needs that affect their education. This is especially true of children under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Sometimes the educational system works to meet these needs. Often it does not. A parent, attorney, or other advocate needs to know what the law pertaining to special education provides and how the system should work for children with special needs, be able to identify where things go wrong, and use the legal process to fix it.
A number of federal and state statutes apply to children who have disabilities. The following sections discuss the statutes in a limited way, giving a brief overview of provisions that apply to children who have disabilities, and who are also under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) is by far the most important and detailed statute governing access to education for children with special needs. Certain provisions of IDEA, along with federal regulations and Colorado law, are particularly applicable to children in the juvenile justice system or the child welfare system, and to children involved with school attendance (truancy) issues. The Code of Federal Regulations interprets IDEA. The Colorado Exceptional Children’s Education Act (ECEA) governs the implementation of IDEA in Colorado.1 The Rules for the Administration of the ECEA interpret the ECEA.2 IDEA and all the accompanying rules are reauthorized or revised periodically, so check appropriate resources for updates.
This section discusses the purpose of IDEA and definition of disability. IDEA sets forth the process for identifying a child with special needs, providing special education, and resolving any disputes that occur along the way. IDEA is driven by the concept of parent advocacy, and without parent advocacy, the system may not be effective. Other provisions, including how to make sure a parent advocate is available, are discussed in detail in the pertinent topic sections.
A specific learning disability “means a disorder in 1 or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.”7 Included disorders are “perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.”8 The disabilities are defined more extensively in 34 C.F.R. § 300.8.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB), codified in Title 20 and Title 25 of the United States Code, is a lengthy, complicated Act. The following is an abbreviated discussion of certain provisions that impact children and youth, particularly those who have disabilities and special needs, in the juvenile justice system or child welfare system, or who are involved with school attendance/truancy issues.
The purpose of this section, therefore, is to serve children and youth who are institutionalized, either because of dependency or neglect, or because of incarceration. A state educational agency receiving funds under this subpart must submit an application that addresses the needs of institutionalized children.
However, there are some exceptions. Records may be released to school officials and teachers who have legitimate educational interests, officials of other schools or school systems in which the student intends to enroll, and state educational authorities.
1. C.R.S. § 22-20-101 through 118.
2. State Bd. of Educ. Rule 2220-R-1.00 through 12.07, 1 Code Colo. Regs. 301-8 (2009).
3. 20 U.S.C. § 1400(d)(1)(A) (2005).
4. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(29) (2008).
5. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3)(A)(i).
6. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3)(A)(ii); 34 C.F.R. § 300.8(a)(1).
7. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(30)(A).
8. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(30)(B).
9. 34 C.F.R. § 300.8(c)(4).
13. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3)(B)(i).
14. 20 U.S.C. § 1401(3)(B)(ii).
15. Peter W. D. Wright, Pamela Darr Wright, Special Education Law, 50 (Harbor House Law Press Inc. 2d ed. 2007).
16. 29 U.S.C. § 794(a) (2002).
17. Wright, supra note 15 at 291.
18. Randy Chapman, The Everyday Guide to Special Education Law, 77 (The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People 2005).
19. Hunt v. St. Peter School, 963 F. Supp. 843 (W.D. Mo. 1997).
20. Wright, supra note 15 at 292; 42 U.S.C. § 12102(2) (2009).
21. 29 U.S.C. § 794(a); 42 U.S.C. § 12102(1) (2009).
22. Wright, supra note 15 at 292.
23. National Children’s Law Network, In School, the Right School, Finish School , 24 (Holland & Hart and Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center 2007), citing 23 IDELR 504 (OCR 1994).
24. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1)(i).
25. 29 C.F.R. § 1630.2(j)(1)(ii).
27. 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.
28. Chapman, supra note 18 at 84-85.
30. Sue Burrell and Loren Warboys, Special Education and the Juvenile Justice System, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Juvenile Justice Bulletin July 2000, at 2.
31. 20 U.S.C. §§ 6301 through 6578.
32. 20 U.S.C. § 6301 (2002).
33. 20 U.S.C. § 6301(2).
34. 20 U.S.C. § 6368 (2002).
35. Peter W. D. Wright, Pamela Darr Wright and Suzanne Whitney Heath, No Child Left Behind, 77 (Harbor House Law Press Inc. 2007); 20 U.S.C. § 6311(b)(2)(B).
36. 20 U.S.C. § 6311(b)(2)(C) (2006).
37. 20 U.S.C. § 6311(h)(2)(B)(i).
38. 20 U.S.C. § 6312(b)(1)(E)(ii) (2007).
39. 20 U.S.C. § 6312(b)(1)(I).
40. 20 U.S.C. § 6313(c)(3) (2002).
41. 20 U.S.C. § 6315 (b)(2) (2002).
42". 20 U.S.C. § 6315(c)(1).
43. Wright and Heath, supra note 35 at 165; 20 U.S.C. § 6312)(g)(1)(A)(vii).
44. 20 U.S.C. § 6316(b)(1)(A) (2002).
45. 20 U.S.C. § 6316(b)(1)(E).
46. 20 U.S.C. § 7912(a) (2002).
47. 20 U.S.C. § 6316(b)(9).
48. 20 U.S.C. § 6316(b)(6)(F).
49. 20 U.S.C. § 6316(e).
50. 20 U.S.C. § 6316(e)(3).
51. 20 U.S.C. §§ 6421 through 6422 (2002); Wright and Heath, supra note 35 at 29.
52. 20 U.S.C. §6434(c)(11) (2002).
53. 20 U.S.C. § 6434(c)(15); 20 U.S.C. § 6455(2) (2008).
54. 20 U.S.C. § 6434(c)(16); 20 U.S.C. § 6455(4).
55. 20 U.S.C. § 6434(c)(17); 20 U.S.C. § 6455(5).
56. Wright and Heath, supra note 34 at 73.
58. 20 U.S.C. § 6371(a)(1) (2002).
59. 20 U.S.C. § 6361(1) (2002).
60. 20 U.S.C. 6381g(a)(1)(B) (2002).
61. 20 U.S.C. § 6381(1) and § 6381c(a) (2002).
62. 20 U.S.C. § 6381d(2) (2002).
63. 20 U.S.C. § 6381d(4).
64. 42 U.S.C. § 11431 through 11435.
65. 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2) (2002).
66. 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2).
67. 42 U.S.C. § 11431(1).
68. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(B) (2008).
69. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(F).
70. Dean B. Eggert, Providing Special Education Services to Children and Youth in Homeless Situations, April 16, 2004 (available at http://www.wadleighlaw.com/articles/School/special_education_for_homeless.htm) (viewed May 5, 2008).
71. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(J).
72. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(C).
73. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(E).
74. Eric Tars, Separate & Unequal in the Same Classroom, p. 272, No. 3, Summer 2009, Loy. Pub. Int. L. Rep.
75. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii).
76. National Law Center of Homelessness and Poverty, Educating Homeless Children and Youth: The Guide to Their Rights 9 (August 2007) (available at http://www.nlchp.org/content/pubs/Basic%20McKinney%20Booklet%20(2007)1.pdf) (viewed May 4, 2008).
77. 42 U.S.C. § 11432(g)(3)(B); 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6).
78. Kathleen McNaught, Learning Curves: Education Advocacy for Children in Foster Care 28 (ABA Center on Children and the Law 2004).
79. Wright, supra note 15 at 307.
80. 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(1)(A) (2002).
81. 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(2).
83. 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(3) & (4).
84. 34 C.F.R. § 99.3 (2009).
85. 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(h).
86. Wright, supra note 15 at 307.
87. A Guide to FERPA. Available at http://www.fape.org/justice/sharing.html (viewed Sept. 30, 2010).
88. McNaught, supra note 78 at 20-21.
89. National Council on Disability, Youth with Disabilities in the Foster Care System: Barriers to Success and Proposed Policy Solutions, at 57 (2008) available at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2008/FosterCareSystem_Report.html (viewed Sept. 30, 2010).
90. 34 C.F.R. § 99.3.
92. 20 U.S.C § 1232g(b)(1)(J).
93. 34 C.F.R. § 99.31(a)(9)(i) (2009).
94. A Guide to FERPA supra note 87.
95. National Council on Disability, supra note 89 at 57.
96. Angela J. Herrick and Helen D. Ward, Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care 2-11 Colorado Department of Human Services.
97. McNaught, supra note 78 at 21.
98. Rios v. Reed, 73 F.R.D 589 (D.C.N.Y. 1977).
99. Kathleen McNaught, Mythbusting: Breaking Down Confidentiality and Decision-Making Barriers to Meet the Education Needs of Children in Foster Care 12, 31 (American Bar Association 2005). Available at http://www.abanet.org/child/education/other-pub.shtml (viewed Sept. 30, 2010); 42 U.S.C. § 675(5)(D) (2010).
102. Pub. L. 105-89 (1997).
103. 45 C.F.R. § 1355.34(b)(1)(iii)(B).
104. McNaught, supra note 78 at 2.

References: § 300
 § 22
 § 1400
 § 1401
 § 1401
 § 1401
 § 300
 § 1401
 § 1401
 § 300
 § 1401
 § 1401
 § 794
 v. 
 § 12102
 § 794
 § 12102
 § 1630
 § 1630
 § 12101
 § 6301
 § 6301
 § 6368
 § 6311
 § 6311
 § 6311
 § 6312
 § 6312
 § 6313
 § 6315
 § 6315
 § 6312
 § 6316
 § 6316
 § 7912
 § 6316
 § 6316
 § 6316
 § 6316
 §6434
 § 6434
 § 6455
 § 6434
 § 6455
 § 6434
 § 6455
 § 6371
 § 6361
 § 6381
 § 6381
 § 6381
 § 6381
 § 11431
 § 11434
 § 11434
 § 11431
 § 11432
 § 11432
 § 11432
 § 11432
 § 11432
 § 11432
 § 11432
 § 11434
 § 1232
 § 1232
 § 1232
 § 99
 § 1232
 § 99
 § 1232
 § 99
 v. 
 § 675
 § 1355