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PROGRAMS
& SERVICES:
SPECIAL EDUCATION:
LAWS & REGULATIONS
(Updated 9/19/07)
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This page contains
a description and links to various state and national laws, regulations and resources
governing the provision of special education services:
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STATE
LAWS & REGULATIONS RELATED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION (Updated 9/19/07)
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Act 117: An Act to
Strengthen the Capacity of Vermont's Education System to Meet the Educational Needs
of All Vermont Students
Act 117, passed
in 2000, is intended to strengthen the capacity of Vermont’s education system to
meet the needs of all Vermont students in the general education environment. It added
increased reporting and monitoring responsibilities to examine issues of cost effectiveness,
consistency and capacity statewide. Act 117 emphasizes the requirements of educational
support services (ESS) and educational support teams (EST) as outlined in Act 157
and increases a school’s accountability for its ESS.
More about Act 117 |
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Act 157: An Act Relating
to a Comprehensive System of Education Services for All Students
In 1996 Act 230 was reauthorized as Act 157 and requires that schools develop
a comprehensive educational support system (ESS) with the capacity to provide a range
of social, academic and behavioral supports. Act 157 extends the focus beyond academics
to include those factors that may have a detrimental impact on a student’s school
performance (i.e. nutrition, mental health, challenging life circumstances). IST’s
became educational support teams (EST’s) to reflect the broader focus. |
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NOTE: Act 230, passed
in 1990 by the Vermont Legislature, was the initial piece of legislation that required
all schools to establish instructional support systems (ISSs) to ensure the early
identification of students at risk and the capability of meeting their needs. It
included an instructional support team (IST) for collaborative problem solving to
assist teachers, and it provided grants for professional development activities to
meet students’ academic needs, to the extent possible, in the regular classroom.
In 1996 Act 230 was reauthorized as Act 157.
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Act
264: An Act Relating to the Creation of an Advisory Board and State and Local Interagency Teams to Assist in the Provision of Care for Children and Adolescents with Severe Emotional Disturbances
Act 264, passed in 1988, set into law Vermont’s development of a comprehensive, integrated
system of care for children and adolescents experiencing severe emotional disturbance
and their families. It mandates and implements principles of interagency collaboration,
coordination and parent involvement at all levels of decision making. In addition
to providing a definition of severe emotional disturbance, it mandates state and
local interagency teams and includes an advisory committee to advise the commissioners
of the Department of Education, the Department of Mental Health and Developmental
Disabilities and the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services on the development
of a comprehensive, integrated system of care.
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Vermont
State Board of Education Manual of Rules and Practices (Rule Series 2360)
This link will take you to the current version of the special education rules (effective September 17, 2007) on the Vermont State Board Manual of Rules and Practices Web page.
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NATIONAL
LAWS & REGULATIONS RELATED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION
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The Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as PL 94-142 is now called, makes
special education and related services (physical education, counseling, transportation,
etc.) a federal entitlement for students with disabilities. It requires that these
students be offered a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive
environment and focuses on parent participation, procedural safeguards and confidentiality.
Amendments have extended the entitlement for education to students three to five
and addressed the needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
States receiving federal education funds are required to identify and evaluate students
with disabilities and offer them an individualized education plan (IEP) or, in the
case of infants and toddlers, an individual family service plan (IFSP) of special
education and related services. |
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- Federal Law, Regulations & Policy Guidance
View the text of the federal law regarding the education and rights of infants,
toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families and guidance to states on how to implement the federal law. NOTE: Use the left navigation for separate links to the law, regulations and policy guidance.
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Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
This law protects people with disabilities from discrimination in any program or
activity receiving federal funding. Students with disabilities that substantially
limit a major life activity such as learning, working, hearing, speaking, etc. may
require an individual accommodation plan or specific services to ensure access to
education and school sponsored activities.
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RESOURCES
RELATED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION (Updated 9/19/07)
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Special Education Guide (Added 9/19/07)
Vermont's special education regulations (effective September 17, 2007) and other pertinent regulations related
to special education are contained in various sections of the Vermont State Board Manual
of Rules and Practices.
This guide brings all references to special education related rules together in a
single document. |
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