PUBLIC NOTICE

All responsible public agencies are required to locate, evaluate, and identify children with disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of the agency, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children, such as migrant and homeless children, children who are wards of the state and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade.  The public school district assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction.  Disabilities include autism, deaf/blindness, emotional disorders, hearing impairment and deafness,  intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment/blindness and young child with a developmental delay.

The public school district assures that it will provide information and referral services necessary to assist the State in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps program.

The public school district assures that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the agency for the purposes of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE of children with disabilities may be inspected and/or reviewed by their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians may request amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The public school district has developed a Local Compliance Plan for the implementation of State Regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This plan contains the agency’s policies and procedures regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agency’s assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act (GEPA).  This plan may be reviewed during regular schools (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) on days school is in session, in the office of the Superintendent of Schools.

The member districts of the Tri-Lakes Special Services Cooperative: Billings R-IV, Bradleyville R-I, Forsyth R-III, Kirbyville R-VI, Mark Twain R-VIII, Taneyville R-II, Plainview R-VIII, Galena R-II, Hurley R-I, Chadwick R-I, Sparta R-III, Spokane R-VII, Shell Knob #78, Exeter R-VI, Niangua R-V, and Thornfield R-I do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.  The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:  Lorri Osbourn, Director, Tri-Lakes Special Services Cooperative,  PO Box 140 Kirbyville, MO 65679; 417-320-5040.  For further information on notice of non-discrimination visit https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/nondisc.html for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area or call 1-800-421-3481.

SURROGATE PARENT PROGRAM

Pursuant to the requirements of state law, the State Board of Education is required to appoint a surrogate parent at such time as it becomes evident that a child with a disability does not have a parent or a person acting as a parent to participate in matters dealing with the provision of special education. For purposes of surrogate parent appointment, “parent” is defined as a biological parent, a guardian, or a person acting as a parent of a child including but not limited to, a grandparent, a step parent, or a foster parent with whom the child lives.  The term does not include the State if the child is a ward of the State.  The term does not include a person whose parental rights have been terminated.

The local school district is given the responsibility to determine when a child with a disability who requires special education and who resides in the district is without a parent. The district must notify the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education of the need to appoint a surrogate parent.  Training for persons serving as surrogate parents will be provided by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the District.

If you are interested in volunteering to serve as a surrogate parent more information can be obtained from the district’s Director of Special Services at 417-320-5040.

Published on behalf of Billings R-VI, Bradleyville R-I, Forsyth R-III, Kirbyville R-VI, Mark Twain R-VIII, Niangua R-V, Taneyville R-II, Plainview R-VIII, Galena R-II, Hurley R-I, Chadwick R-I, Sparta R-III, Spokane R-VII, Shell Knob #78, Exeter R-VI, and Thornfield R-I.

504 PUBLIC NOTICE

The Districts of the Tri-Lakes Special Services Cooperative (listed below), as recipients of federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education and operator of a public elementary or secondary education program and/or activity, is required to undertake to identify and locate every qualified person residing in the District who is not receiving a public education; and take appropriate steps to notify disabled persons and their parents or guardians of the District’s duty.

The Tri-Lakes Special Services Cooperative member districts assures that it will provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each qualified disabled person in the District’s jurisdiction regardless of the nature or severity of the person’s disability.  For purposes of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the provision of an appropriate education is the provision of regular or special and related aids and services that (i) are designed to meet individual education needs of disabled persons as adequately as the needs of nondisabled persons are met and (ii) are based on adherence to procedures that satisfy the requirements of the 504 federal regulations.

The Tri-Lakes Special Services Cooperative member district has developed a 504 Procedures Manual for the implementation of federal regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Subpart D. This Procedures Manual may be reviewed at the Tri-Lakes Special Service Cooperative Administrative Office, 4280 State Hwy. 76 E, Kirbyville, MO from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on days that school is in session.

Published on behalf of Billings R-VI, Bradleyville R-I, Forsyth R-III, Kirbyville R-VI, Mark Twain R-VIII, Taneyville R-II, Plainview R-VIII, Galena R-II, Hurley R-I, Chadwick R-I, Sparta R-III, Spokane R-VII, Shell Knob #78, Exeter R-VI, Thornfield R-I, and Niangua R-V.

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.