Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 200 - Board of Education › Chapter 20 - Council on Elementary and Secondary Education › Subchapter 30 - Student Supports › Part 6 - Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities › Section 200-RICR-20-30-6.10 - Additional Requirements

Current through June 14, 2024
6.10.1
Local
				  Advisory Committee on Special Education
A. Local advisory committee on special
				  education (LAC).
1. The school committee of
				  each local educational or regional special education program shall appoint an
				  Advisory Committee on Special Education. The school committee shall approve the
				  by- laws of the advisory committee.
2. Membership: Each local or regional
				  committee shall be composed of persons involved in or concerned with the
				  education of students with disabilities. Parents of students with disabilities
				  shall compose a majority of the committee membership, and at least fifty
				  percent (50%) of this majority shall be selected by the parents of students
				  with disabilities. A regional committee shall reflect an equal distribution of
				  representatives from each of the school districts that comprise the regional
				  program. Membership shall include an individual with a disability, a public
				  school administrator, a special education teacher, a general education teacher
				  and other members of the community at the discretion of the committee and
				  school board.
3. Functions and
				  Responsibilities of the LAC: The committee shall advise the school district or
				  regional program on matters concerning the unmet needs of students with
				  disabilities, comment on improvement plans including school support plans
				  resulting from IDEA Part B compliance reports, local compliance with state and
				  federal laws pertaining to the education of students with disabilities, comment
				  on applications for federal and state funds and serve as advocates in
				  partnership with parents for students with disabilities to ensure that they
				  receive the entitlements provided to them under state and federal
				  laws.
4. Duties and
				  Responsibilities of the Local or Regional Agency: The local or regional
				  educational agency shall provide support to the committee by contracting for
				  technical assistance services with the Rhode Island designated Parent Training
				  and Technical Assistance Agency or other community- based non-profit parent
				  organization. Such technical assistance shall include the role of advisory
				  committees in advocating for children, state and federal regulations, community
				  resources, strategic planning and development of an annual report to the school
				  committee. The local or regional educational agency shall also provide school
				  and district improvement plans to the committee for comment and make available
				  appropriate records and data as permitted by law. The public agency shall also
				  support the committee in disseminating information to parents of students
				  regarding the role of the advisory committee, information pertaining to special
				  education and inform the committee of professional development opportunities
				  that are available within the LEA.
5. Conduct of Meetings: The committee shall
				  meet as often as necessary to conduct its business but at least four times
				  annually. Official minutes shall be kept of all committee meetings and be
				  available for public review. All committee meetings and agendas shall be
				  publicly announced prior to any meeting, and meetings shall be open to the
				  public.
6. Members of the committee
				  shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable and
				  necessary expenses for attending meetings and performing duties.
7. Parent Notification of Local or Regional
				  Advisory Committee: When a child is referred to special education, each school
				  district or regional special education program shall provide the parents with
				  notification of the existence of the Local or Regional Advisory Committee for
				  Special Education established in compliance with this Part. The notification
				  shall specify that a majority of the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) on Special
				  Education is parents of children with disabilities, and shall inform the
				  parents how the chairperson of the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) for Special
				  Education or the Regional Advisory Committee on Special Education may be
				  contacted.