The division of special education has the following duties and powers:
1.To aid in the organization of special schools, classes and instructional facilities for
children requiring special education, and to supervise the system of special education for
children requiring special education.
2.To administer rules adopted by the state board that are consistent with this chapter for
the approval of plans for special education programs and services submitted by the director
of special education of the area education agency.
3.To adopt plans for the establishment and maintenance of day classes, schools, home
instruction, and other methods of special education for children requiring special education.
4.To purchase and otherwise acquire special equipment, appliances and other aids for
3 SPECIA
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The division of special education has the following duties and powers:
1. To aid in the organization of special schools, classes and instructional facilities for
children requiring special education, and to supervise the system of special education for
children requiring special education.
2. To administer rules adopted by the state board that are consistent with this chapter for
the approval of plans for special education programs and services submitted by the director
of special education of the area education agency.
3. To adopt plans for the establishment and maintenance of day classes, schools, home
instruction, and other methods of special education for children requiring special education.
4. To purchase and otherwise acquire special equipment, appliances and other aids for
3 SPECIAL EDUCATION, §256B.3
use in special education, and to loan or lease same under such rules and regulations as the
department may prescribe.
5. To prescribe courses of study, and curricula for special schools, special classes
and special instruction of children requiring special education, including physical and
psychological examinations, and to prescribe minimum requirements for children requiring
special education to be admitted to any such special schools, classes or instruction.
6. To provide for certification by the director of special education of the eligibility of
children requiring special education for admission to, or discharge from, special schools,
classes or instruction.
7. Toinitiatetheestablishmentofclassesforchildrenrequiringspecialeducationorhome
study services in hospitals, nursing, convalescent, juvenile and private homes, in cooperation
with the management thereof and local school districts or area education agency boards.
8. To cooperate with school districts or area education agency boards in arranging for any
child requiring special education to attend school in a district other than the one in which the
child resides when there is no available special school, class, or instruction in the districts in
which the child resides.
9. To cooperate with existing agencies such as the department of health and human
services, the Iowa school for the deaf, the children’s hospitals, or other agencies concerned
with the welfare and health of children requiring special education in the coordination of
their educational activities for such children.
10. Toinvestigateandstudytheneeds,methodsandcostsofspecialeducationforchildren
requiring special education.
11. To provide for the employment and establish standards for the performance of special
education support personnel required to assist in the identification of and educational
programs for children requiring special education.
12. To provide for the establishment of special education research and demonstration
projects and models for special education program development.
13. To establish a special education resource, materials and training system for the
purposes of developing specialized instructional materials and provide in-service training to
personnel employed to provide educational services to children requiring special education.
14. To approve the acquisition and use of special facilities designed for the purpose of
providing educational services to children requiring special education.
15. TosubmitcopiesofallreportsthedivisionprovidestotheUnitedStatesdepartmentof
educationunderpartBofthefederalIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct, asamended,
including but not limited to any report concerning disproportionate representation in special
education based on race or ethnicity, to the general assembly on the date each such report is
provided to the United States department of education.
16. Beginning July 1, 2024, oversee the operation of each area education agency to ensure
theareaeducationagencycomplieswithallapplicablefederalandstatelawsrelatedtospecial
education.
17. Develop and distribute to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools a process
to facilitate the development of individualized education programs and assist individualized
education program teams with decisions regarding free appropriate public education and
placement for students enrolled in accredited nonpublic schools.
18. Provide professional learning and other support materials and tools for individualized
education program teams, including students, families, teacher service providers, and
administrators of both school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to help such
individuals understand the processes required under the federal law that are relevant to
students enrolled in accredited nonpublic schools and to promote informed participation
in individualized education program meetings of students enrolled in accredited nonpublic
schools.
19. Provide information to individualized education program teams and public agencies
that nonpublic schools shall be considered a placement option so long as the individualized
education program of a child with a disability does not require some other arrangement.
20. Develop and distribute to school districts professional learning and other materials
§256B.3, SPECIAL EDUCATION 4
for meaningful consultation for representatives of area education agencies, school districts,
and accredited nonpublic schools.
21. Establish sustainable accountability and data collection systems related to special
education that meet federal and state legal requirements and encourage innovative models
for meeting the needs of students.
22. Develop and distribute to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools an
implementation plan related to identifying, evaluating, and promoting strategies and models
for providing special education and related services with accredited nonpublic schools that
improve the experiences and outcomes for students with disabilities.
23. To make rules to carry out the powers and duties provided for in this section.