Parentally Placed Private School Students
Mission Valley SELPA is committed to ensuring that children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private, including religious, elementary and secondary schools, are identified, located, and evaluated in accordance with the California Education Code and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Each member district accepts and considers referrals for special education assessments and determines eligibility for services in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), eligible children with disabilities are entitled to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) through their local public school district. IDEA also requires school districts to provide equitable services to eligible students who are parentally placed in private schools.
The responsibilities of a Local Educational Agency (LEA) for students enrolled by their parents in private schools differ from those for students enrolled in public schools or those placed in private schools by a public agency.
Services for Parentally Placed Private School Students
Students with disabilities who are enrolled in private schools by their parents do not have an individual entitlement to the same special education services they would receive if enrolled in a public school.
Instead, LEAs use a proportionate share of federal IDEA funds to provide equitable services to eligible private school students. As a result:
Not all eligible students will receive services.
The type and amount of services may differ from those provided in a public school setting.
LEAs consult annually with private school representatives and parents during the planning and development of these services.
If a parent enrolls a child who previously received special education services in a private school without the consent of or referral by the LEA, the district is not required to continue providing special education services if it has already made FAPE available.
Assessment and Registration
Families requesting a special education assessment or services for a parentally placed private school student will be asked to register their child with their resident school district. Eligible students who receive services through Mission Valley SELPA will have an Individual Services Plan (ISP) developed to outline the special education and related services to be provided.