Parentally Placed Private School Student Services

Local education agencies (LEAs) are required under federal and state law to locate, identify, and evaluate students ages 3 to 22 with suspected disabilities who are voluntarily enrolled by their parents in private schools, including religious schools and home schools located within the boundaries of the LEA.

Private school and homeschooled students eligible for special education services do not have an individual right to the same services they would receive in public school. However, they may enroll at any time in their zoned public school, where an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be developed and implemented to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

The SELPA allocates a proportionate amount of federal funds to serve children with disabilities attending private and home schools located within the SELPA geographical area. The funding amount is determined annually according to a formula found in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (70 U.S.C. 1dl2(a)(IO)(A), 34 U.S, C. 300. 133). Cost of evaluations is not deducted from the proportionate amount of federal funds available to eligible students for services and is free to families.

On an annual and ongoing basis, the SELPA, member local education agencies (LEAs) will consult with private school representatives of parentally placed private school students with disabilities regarding special education and related services. 

Special education and related services may be provided either on-site at the private school or at a location designated by the local education agency (LEA). Personnel providing services for private school students meet the same standards as personnel providing services for public school students.

Students suspected of having an educational disability are referred for an evaluation in accordance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Contact your local school district to request an evaluation for your student.

The local education agency (LEA) provides comprehensive evaluations to students suspected of having any IDEA-defined disability. These evaluations are at no cost to parent or private school. Once contacted, the LEA will initiate the process for initial evaluation and eligibility determination. The timeframe for this process is comparable to that for students attending public schools in the LEA. Special education and/or related services will be determined after eligibility is established by the team.

No parentally-placed private school child with a disability has an individual right to receive some or all of the special education and/or related services that the child would receive if enrolled in the public school. Services are provided to eligible private school students to the extent that proportionate funding is available. Decisions about the services that will be provided to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities will be determined in the service plan meeting. Individualized Service Plans (ISPs) are written for private school students with disabilities who receive special education services through the local education agency (LEA). A team composed of representatives from the LEA, private school representatives, parents, teachers, and the child, when appropriate, are included in developing the ISP. 

Disputes arising from provision service that cannot be settled locally are subject to State of California administrative complaint procedures. However, rights to due process and mediation proceedings do apply to disputes regarding the evaluation process.