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Policy committee advances new individualized education program policy to full board
Summary
The Stamford Board of Education policy committee voted 4-0 to advance Resolution 89, recommending adoption of Policy 6159 on individualized education programs (IEPs). Staff said the policy codifies existing state and federal requirements and CABE model language; members praised the clarification and transfer provisions for out-of-district students.
Miss Cope, chair of the policy committee, moved Wednesday to advance Resolution 89 recommending that the Stamford Board of Education adopt Policy 6159, an individualized education program (IEP) policy, and the committee voted 4-0 to send the item to the full board's consent agenda.
The measure, presented by district staffer Chris, is based on a model from CABE and ‘‘codifies current state and federal law regarding special education services, specifically IEPs and PPTs,’’ Chris said, describing the proposal as formalizing practices the district already follows. "While the policy is new, the contents are not," Chris added.
The policy includes required elements of an IEP and outlines the structure and functioning of the PPT team, officials said. Miss Cope highlighted a transfers section that covers out-of-district students and noted the district expects to receive students as part of a regional special-education program in partnership with CES; she said it is important to have transfer language in the policy before the program begins accepting students.
Dr. Hammond, a committee member, pressed for the policy's origins and urged the committee to monitor implementation. "This is one of the most valuable policies we can put up there because parents have rights and ultimately our students have rights," Dr. Hammond said, urging oversight of transfer enrollments and local monitoring.
Miss Cope confirmed CABE updated the model this year and said the policy will appear on the regular Board of Education consent agenda after committee approval. The committee chair also noted a clerical correction in records: two policies are currently in pending administrative review (the family and medical leave policy and the special education policy), and a superintendent evaluation policy is in very early vetting with legal and administrators.
The committee adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
