Special Education Programs for Students with Disabilities

In keeping with the intention of the state of Colorado and this Board of Education to offer educational opportuni­ties to all students which will enable them to lead fulfilling and productive lives, the district shall provide appropriate educational opportunities to students with disabilities in accordance with the requirements of state and federal law.

Any student identified as a child with disabilities pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (the IDEIA) who is between the ages of three and 21 and who has not been awarded a regular high school diploma, and graduated from high school has the right to a free appropriate public education.  These eligible students with disabilities shall be pro­vided individualized programs appropriate to meet their educational needs, as determined by the student’s individualized education program (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) teams. 

A student identified as a child with disabilities under the IDEIA shall become eligible for special education and related services on his or her third birthday.  A student reaching age 21 after the beginning of an academic year shall have the right to complete the semester in which his or her 21^st birthday occurs or attend until he or she graduates, whichever comes first.  In such a case, the child is not entitled to extended school year services during the summer following such current academic year.

Students with disabilities are required by federal law to be included in state and district-wide assessments, with appropriate accommodations where necessary.  IEP developed for a student with disabilities shall specify whether the student shall achieve the district’s adopted content standards or whether the student shall achieve individualized standards which would indicate the student has met the requirements of his or her IEP.

(Silverton Board of Education Policy IHBA, adopted April 2005, modified 12/2005, 11/2006, 3/2011)