Special Education Definitions
Copies of the complete IDEA regulations are available in the Main Office of each
school and in the Special Education Office. The following definitions comply with those
found in IDEA. These definitions should be familiar to all staff working with special
needs students. Words and terms, unless otherwise stated in these definitions, used in this
chapter shall be defined in the same manner as those words and terms used in the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Definitions
Adaptive Behavior – the ability to demonstrate personal independence and social
responsibility according to age and socio-cultural group expectations.
Adult Student – emancipated minor or a person age 18 through 21, who is or was
enrolled in the public school and who is not under legal guardianship.
Assistive Technology Service – any service that directly assists a student with a
disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology
device. The term includes the evaluation of the needs of a student with
a disability, including a functional evaluation of the student in the
student’s customary environment; purchasing, leasing, or otherwise
providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by students
with disabilities; selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying,
retaining, repairing, or replacing of assistive technology devices; coordinating
and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology;
and rehabilitation plans and programs.
Community Based Vocational Instruction (CBVI) – instruction in any organized
educational program that is directly related to the preparation of students for
employment, or for additional preparation for a career requiring other than a
college or advanced degree.
Consent – that a parent having legal responsibility for educational decision making
or the adult pupil has been fully informed of all information relevant to the
activity for which consent is sought, in his or her native language or other
mode of communication; understands and agrees in writing to the implementation
of this activity; and understands that the granting of consent is voluntary and may
be revoked at any time.
Director of Special Education – the person who has responsibility for supervising the
provision of all special education services in the school district.
Educational Advocate – a person assigned to act in special educational matters on
behalf of a child who has been referred for evaluation or in need of special
education, when parents are unknown or unavailable, or when the child in the
custody of a state agency and the parents do not retain educational decisionmaking rights also known as a surrogate parent.
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) – special education and related services
which: a)are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction
and with out charge; b) meet state education standards; c) include preschool,
elementary school or secondary education; d) are provided in conformity with an
individualized educational plan which meets the requirements of these
regulations; and e) assure equal educational development with all students.
Hearing – due process administrative hearing conducted through the State
Department of Education
IDEA – Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.
IEP – Individualized Education Program
Independent Evaluator – an individual or group of individuals who are not employed
by the public school, who are registered, certified, licensed or otherwise approved
to perform the assessments requested by the parent pursuant to these regulations.
Individualized Education Program – a written plan developed at a meeting which sets
forth goals and measurable objectives and describes an integrated, sequential
program of individually designed educational activities and/or related services
necessary to achieve the stated goals and objectives. This plan shall establish the
rationale for the student’s educational placement, serve as the basis for program
implementation and comply with the mandates set forth in this chapter.
Lease Restrictive Environment (LRE) – the program and placement which ensures
that, to the maximum extent possible, a child in need of special education,
including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, is
educated with children who are not in need of special education, and that
special classes, separate schooling or other removal of a child in need of
special education from the regular education environment occurs only when
the nature or severity of the special needs is such that education in regular classes
with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
Multidisciplinary Team – individuals from a variety of disciplines engaged in a
collective effort to assess the needs of students.
Native Language – the language or mode of communication normally used by a person
with a limited ability to speak or understand the English language.
Nonpublic School – an elementary or secondary school, other than a public school,
with in the State, providing education in grades kindergarten through 12, or any
combination of grades, in which a pupil age five through 20 may fulfill
compulsory school attendance.
Nonpublic School Student – any student who is enrolled full time in a nonpublic
school. A student who boards at a nonpublic school shall be considered
a resident of the school district in which the parent(s) resides.
Parent(s) – the natural parent(s), the legal guardian(s), foster parent(s), surrogate
parent(s), person acting in the place of a parent such as the person with
whom the student legally resides and/or a person legally responsible for the
student’s welfare. Unless parental rights have been terminated by a court
of appropriate jurisdiction, the parent(s) retains all rights under this chapter.
Recreation – for students with educational disabilities, instruction to enable the
student to participate in appropriate leisure time activities, including
involvement in recreation programs offered by the district board of education
and the facilitation of a pupil’s involvement in appropriate community
recreation programs.
Regular Education Program – the school program and pupil assignment for children
without need of special education. This program normally leads to college
preparatory or technical education or to a career, has a typical grade progression
from kindergarten to high school, and offers a full range of supportive services
which are normally provided to children without need of special education.
Related Services – for students with educational disabilities, counseling and/or training
for parents relative to the education of a student, recreation, occupational therapy,
physical therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school nursing services, social work
services, transportation, as well as any other appropriate developmental,
corrective and supportive services required for a student to benefit from education
as required by the student’s individualized Education program.
Special Education – specially designed instruction to meet the educational needs of
students with educational disabilities including, but not limited to, subject
matter instruction, physical education and vocational training.
Student – a person age three (3) through twenty (20) who is entitled to receive
educational programs and services in accordance with Federal or State
law or regulation.
Student Age – the school age of a student as defined by the following:
1.
Age three – attainment of the third birthday. Children attaining
2.
3.
the age three who are eligible for Preschool Special Education Services,
shall have a free, appropriate public education
available to them provided by the district board of education.
Age five – the attainment of age five by September 1st. Students with
educational disabilities
attaining age five during the school year shall continue to be provided
preschool services for the balance of the school year.
Age 21 – the attainment of the twenty-first birthday by June 30 of
that school year. Students with educational disabilities attaining
age 21 during the school year shall continue to be provided services for
the balance of that school year
Student with Educational Disability – a student who has been determined to be eligible
for special education and/or related services.
Transition Services – a coordinated set of activities for a pupil with educational
disabilities, designed within an outcome oriented process, that promotes
movement from school to post-school activities, including post secondary
education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported
employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent
living, or community participation.
Vocational Education – the approved type of education, purposefully designed to
educate and prepare students of all ages for employment and continuing academic
and occupational preparation through a balance of classroom instruction,
supportive services and occupational experience to develop life-long skills so that
upon completion of vocational technical programs, students are qualified
to pursue, directly or indirectly, opportunities emanating from such vocational
technical programs.