§ 16-24-1. Duty of school committee to provide special education.
(a) In any city or town where there is a child with a disability within the age range
as designated by the regulations of the state board of education who is functionally
limited to such an extent that normal educational growth and development is prevented,
the school committee of the city or town where the child resides shall provide the
type of special education that will best satisfy the needs of the child with a disability,
as recommended and approved by the state board of education in accordance with its
regulations governing the education of children with disabilities.
(b) Notwithstanding any other federal or state law or regulation, the school committee
where a parentally placed child who has, or develops, a disability in private school
resides, shall provide the child with the same free and appropriate education as it
provides to children in public schools. These children shall have the same rights
and remedies in the regulations of the board of education governing the education
of children with disabilities as children in public school relative to initially determining
eligibility, implementation, and/or any other rights and remedies relative to any
special education services the child may be eligible to receive from the public school
district.
(c) For the purpose of this statute, a parentally placed child who has, or develops, a
disability in private school is defined as a child enrolled or placed in a private
school by the unilateral decision of his or her parents and without consultation of
the public school district, who either has, or at some point while at the private
school is diagnosed with, a learning disability. Parents who unilaterally enroll their
child in a private school are required to pay the tuition costs related to the child's
education that are unrelated to the child's disability, and the public school district
where the child resides is responsible for payment of the services related to the
child's disability as developed and determined in the child's individual education
plan.
(d) For the purpose of this statute, a free and appropriate education is defined as special
education services and related services that:
(1) Are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without
charge;
(2) Meet all of the standards and requirements of the state of Rhode Island department
of education and requirements of the regulations of the board of education governing
the education of children with disabilities, which shall include initial evaluation
and determination procedures;
(3) Include preschool, elementary school, or secondary school education in the state;
and
(4) Are provided in conformity with an individualized education program that meets the
requirements of the regulations of the board of education governing the education
of children with disabilities.
(e) In those cases that an individual education plan has been adopted for a child and
the child moves to another town or city, the plan shall remain in effect until a new
plan is adopted for the child in the new town or city.
(f) A child with a disability as referenced in subsection (a) of this section shall have
available to them any benefits provided by this section up to their twenty-first birthday,
in accordance with the student's individualized education program (IEP). Provided,
in the event such a child with a disability is enrolled in a postsecondary or transitional
educational program as part of the services provided to the child by the school committee
or local education agency (LEA), and such child reaches twenty-one (21) years of age
during a school or program year, then the school committee's or LEA's obligation to
pay for the postsecondary or transitional program shall continue through to the conclusion
of the school or program's academic year, in accordance with the student's individualized
education program. Not later than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the child turning
twenty-one (21) years of age, the local educational agency (LEA) shall provide the
child and the parent or guardian with notice explaining the rights under this section
that remain in effect at age twenty-one (21). Further, not later than sixty (60) calendar
days prior to the child turning twenty-one (21) years of age, the state adult service
agencies responsible for planning, funding and providing services and supports for
adults with developmental disabilities, including the state office of rehabilitation
services (ORS) and the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities
and hospitals (BHDDH), shall provide the child and the parent or guardian with notice
of the obligations and responsibilities that the respective agency owes to eligible
recipients along with a level of funding and/or an individual support plan for the
child twenty-one (21) years of age to receive. This section shall not be used to delay
or defer the obligation of a state agency responsible for providing services to this
population.
(g) For purposes of providing services under this chapter, "special education� shall have
the same meaning as used in 34 C.F.R. § 300.39 and includes speech-language pathology services for students among the other services
and supports provided for therein. The provision of speech-language pathology services
shall not cease or be terminated solely because a child has attained nine (9) years
of age or greater, if those services are still warranted.