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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 8. Education
Agency 20. State Board of Education
Chapter 81. Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia
11/21/2024

8VAC20-81-120. Children who transfer.

A. Children with disabilities who transfer between local educational agencies in Virginia or transfer from a local educational agency outside of Virginia to a local educational agency in Virginia within the same school year are subject to the following provisions. (34 CFR 300.323(e), (f), and (g))

1. The new local educational agency shall take reasonable steps to obtain the child's records, including the IEP and supporting documents and any other records relating to the provision of special education and related services to the child, from the previous local educational agency in which the child was enrolled. The previous local educational agency shall take reasonable steps to promptly respond to the request from the new local educational agency.

a. If the previous local educational agency is not forthcoming in providing the records for the child, the new local educational agency should contact the Virginia Department of Education for assistance in resolving the matter.

b. If the new local educational agency is unable to obtain the IEP from the previous local educational agency or from the parent, the new local educational agency is not required to provide special education and related services to the child. The new local educational agency shall place the student in a general educational program and conduct an evaluation if the new local educational agency determines that an evaluation is necessary.

2. The new local educational agency shall provide a free appropriate public education to the child, including ensuring that the child has available special education and related services, in consultation with the parent(s), including services comparable to those described in the child's IEP from the previous local educational agency, until the new local educational agency either:

a. Adopts and implements the child's IEP from the previous local educational agency with the parent's consent; or

b. Conducts an evaluation, if determined necessary by the local educational agency, and develops and implements a new IEP with the parent's consent that meets the requirements in this chapter.

3. The new local educational agency may develop and implement an interim IEP with the parent's consent while obtaining and reviewing whatever information is needed to develop a new IEP.

4. If the parent(s) and the local educational agency are unable to agree on interim services or a new IEP, the parent(s) or local educational agency may initiate the dispute resolution options of mediation or due process to resolve the dispute. During the resolution of the dispute, the local educational agency shall provide FAPE in consultation with the parent(s), including services comparable to those described in the child's IEP from the previous local educational agency.

B. The new local educational agency shall provide the parent(s) with proper notice regarding actions taken to provide the child with a free appropriate public education.

C. If the local educational agency determines it necessary to conduct an evaluation of the child, the local educational agency shall provide proper notice, initiate evaluation procedures, conduct the evaluation, determine eligibility, and develop an IEP in accordance with this chapter.

1. During the evaluation period, the child shall receive services in accordance with the existing IEP, excluding the sections of the IEP that are not in accordance with this chapter.

2. The local educational agency shall inform the parent(s) of the sections of the existing IEP that are not in accordance with this chapter.

D. When a child with a disability who was placed in a private residential school under the Comprehensive Services Act transfers to a new local educational agency, the new local educational agency shall review the current placements and adopt or revise and implement the IEP within 30 calendar days of receipt of written notification of the child's transfer. The former Comprehensive Services Act team is responsible for paying for services until 30 calendar days after the new Comprehensive Services Act team receives written notification of the child's residence in the new local educational agency from the former Comprehensive Services Act team. (The CSA Implementation Manual)

Statutory Authority

§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-214 of the Code of Virginia; 20 USC § 1400 et seq.; 34 CFR Part 300.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 21, eff. July 7, 2009.

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