The
FAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) afford parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with respect to the student’s education record. They are:
The office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S.
Department of Education,
Child Find Notice: CHILDREN with DISABILITIES
UNDER IDEA OR SECTION 504 and
the
It is the policy of the
The
If you suspect that your child or any child living within the boundaries of these school districts, ages 0 through 21, is or might be a student with disabilities, please contact the Coordinator listed below.
The District works with you to evaluate your child, determine if he or she qualifies for special education or related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and provide a free, appropriate public education to your child to the extent he or she is eligible under these laws. Federal Regulations implementing the IDEA are scheduled to be finalized within the next few months. These regulations may increase your rights under the IDEA. Upon request, the District will provide you with a detailed notice of your procedural safeguards under the applicable law(s).
If you have questions, would like more information, or wish to make a referral, please contact:
School Principal/Assistant Principal
465-2260
School Principal/Assistant Principal
465-9182
STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS
Under New Hampshire law, RSA 186-C:16-b, if you want to bring an action to enforce state or federal special education laws – including those involving identification, evaluation, determination of disability, individualized education programs, placement, or the provision of a free, appropriate education for your child – you must request an impartial due process hearing from the department of education within two years of the date you discovered or reasonably should have discovered the alleged violation. If you want to bring an action to recover the costs of a unilateral special education placement, you must request an impartial due process hearing within 90 days of the unilateral placement. If you have not been given proper notice of your special education rights, including the time limitations, these limitations shall run from the time such notice is properly given. Failure to comply with these timelines could result in the loss of your right to bring these actions.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA)
In 1975, Congress enacted the law now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law was reauthorized in 1977,1997 and 2004 and provides eligible children from ages 3 to 21 who have a disability adversely impacting their educational progress, with a free and appropriate education via a special education program and related services.
The law establishes a two-prong eligibility standard. Special education and related services of
IDEA are available to students who have documented disabilities and who need
special assistance to benefit from education.
Once a child is found eligible, a team including the child’s parents and
representatives of the public education system develops an individualized
education program (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP) that
includes the services and supports necessary to meet each child’s unique
needs. The
SECTION 504 of the REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a
non-discrimination statute barring discrimination on the basis of one’s
disability. As required by Section 504,
it is the policy of the
The Assistant Principals and guidance counselors at each building are designated as the Section 504 Coordinators. They may be contacted at 673-4640 or 673-0122. Parents are entitled to review their child’s relevant educational records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents, guardians or students eighteen years of age or older, who disagree with the decisions reached by school personnel regarding eligibility or accommodations and services necessary for access to educational programming and/or facilities, may either request a Due Process Hearing before an impartial hearing officer, file a grievance by notifying the school principal in writing, or file a complaint with one of the agencies noted on page 7.
SECTION 504/TITLE II GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The Hollis School District has an internal grievance procedure providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).
Both Section 504 and Title II prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.
Complaints should be addressed to the respective building principal who has been designated to coordinate Section 504/Title II compliance efforts within their respective buildings.
School Principal/Assistant Principal
465-2260
School Principal/Assistant Principal
465-9182
NOTICE OF PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS UNDER SECTION 504 AND THE
The
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), an individual with a disability is someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. The district is obligated to provide a free, appropriate public education to each child eligible under these laws.
In accordance with Section 504
and the
A. You have the right to receive a copy of this notice with notification of any district action regarding identification, evaluation or placement of a student pursuant to Section 504. This includes any time that the district intends to screen, evaluate or reevaluate, make changes in classification, placement or any component of the child’s FAPE, or upon refusal to act on any parental request.
B. If your child needs or is believed to need special education or related services, you have the right to an evaluation of your child (1) before the initial placement, and (2) before any subsequent significant change in placement.
C. You have the right to an opportunity to examine all relevant records for your child.
D. You have the right to an impartial hearing, with participation by you and representation by counsel, concerning the identification, evaluation or educational placement of your child.
E. You have the right to appeal the final decision of the impartial hearing officer to a court of competent jurisdiction.
The following people have been designated to handle inquires regarding the non-discrimination policies:
School Principal/Assistant Principal
465-2260
School Principal/Assistant Principal
465-9182
The Procedural Safeguards Notice will be distributed to parents or guardians as follows:
A. Whenever the district takes any action regarding identification, evaluation or placement of a student pursuant to Section 504. This includes any time that the district intends to screen, evaluate or reevaluate, make changes in classification, placement or any component of the child’s FAPE, or upon refusal to act on any parental request.
B. Annually, for all students who (1) have refused services and are attending private schools, home schooling programs, or regular education classes; (2) have dropped out of school; or (3) have been identified as 504 eligible.
NONDISCRIMINATION AND NOTIFICATION OF GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
It is the policy of the Hollis School Board and School District not to discriminate in education programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, language, sex, age, creed, color, marital status, national origin or disability status, under the provisions of Title VI and Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, as amended in 2000.
Inquiries concerning implementation of 504, Title VI, Title IX and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act may be directed to the school Principal, The Superintendent of Schools, United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region I, John W. McCormack Post Office And Courthouse, Room 701, Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-4557, NH Commission for Human Rights, 2 Chennel Dr., Concord, NH 03301 or the Special Education Bureau, NH Department of Education, 101 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301.
Grievance procedures are available which provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging violations to Titles VI and IX, Section 504, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997. Grievance procedures may be obtained at a school or SAU office. It is also the policy of the Hollis School Board and School District that all employees and students in the school district should be able to work and study in an environment that is free of sexual discrimination and sexual harassment.
CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE
Because of their sustained contact with school-age students,
school employees are often in a position to identify abused or neglected
students and to refer them for treatment and protection. To comply with the
Child Protection Act (RSA: 169-C, 1979), it is the policy of the
Additional information is available at:
United States Department of Justice, A Guide to Disability Rights Laws,
United States Department of Education, Summary of FERPA,
A description of parents’ rights under the IDEA can be found at the New Hampshire Department of Education website,
Procedural Safeguards Handbook