In Garrett County Public Schools, students who are parentally placed in private schools and have disabilities are entitled to special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). 

What is Parentally-Placed Private school? 

• Parentally-placed private school student means a child with a disability enrolled by the parent or guardian of the child in a private elementary or secondary school facility, including a religious school or facility, in accordance with 20 2 U.S.C § 1412(A)(10)(A).

What are the LEA’s responsibilities for identifying children with disabilities placed by their parents in private schools? 

• Garrett County Public Schools is responsible for locating, identifying, and evaluating all children with disabilities who are enrolled by their parents in private, including religious, elementary and secondary schools as defined in 34 C.F.R. § 300.13 and 34 C.F.R. § 300.36. This responsibility is known as Child Find. 

What type of plan is put in place to provide services to Parentally Placed Private School Students? 

• Students who are eligible for special education and related services and are Parentally placed in a Private School are provided an Individualized Service Plan.

How are services determined for Parentally Placed Private School Students? 

• Garrett County Public Schools engages in a consultation process with private school representatives and representatives of parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities on key issues relating to the equitable participation of eligible private school children in federally funded special education and related services. 

What services does Garrett County Public Schools currently provide to Parentally Placed Private School Students?

• Through the consultation process, Garrett County Public Schools and private school representatives have determined that students Parentally Placed in a Private School will receive two 20-minute speech sessions a month. These services are provided at no cost to parents/guardians. 

Where are services provided for students Parentally Placed in a Private School?

• Garrett County Public Schools provides services at the Private School setting. 

How do Parentally Placed Private School services differ from students attending Garrett County Public School? 

• Students enrolled in Garrett County Public Schools are offered a full continuum of special education and related services. Students who are Parentally Placed in a Private School are eligible for equitable services as agreed upon in the consultation process, but not the full continuum.

All decisions regarding the placement of a child with a disability in a special education service delivery model will be made by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team in consultation with the parents or guardians of the child and consistent with the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Reference: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON SERVING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES PLACED BY THEIR PARENTS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education Programs