All public schools are required to provide a free and appropriate public education to all students with disabilities, including those attending private/parochial schools, beginning on the child’s third birthday through age twenty (20), regardless of the child’s disability. The public school assures that to comply with the full educational opportunity goal, services for students three (3) through twenty-one (21) will be fully implemented by 1999. Disabilities include: learning disabilities, mental retardation, behavior disorders/emotional disturbance, speech disorders (voice, fluency, or articulation), language disorders, visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically/other health impaired, multiple disabilities, deaf/blind, autism, early childhood special education, and traumatic brain injury.

The public school 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’s First Steps Program.

All public schools are required to provide parents the right to inspect and review personally identifiable information collected and used or maintained by the district relating to their children. Parents have the right to require amendment of these records if they feel the information is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their children. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Privacy Act (FERPA). You may contact your local district, if you wish to review the requirements provided in FERPA.

The public school has developed a Local Compliance Plan for implementation of Special Education and this Plan is available for public review during regular school hours on days school is in session in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools. The Local Compliance Plan is a written narrative which describes the district’s plan for compliance with the requirements for identifying and serving all students with disabilities. Included in this plan are the policies and procedures which the district must follow regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention, and destruction of personally identifiable information. The plan also describes the assurances that services are provided in compliance with the requirement of 34 CFR 76.301 of the General Education Provision Act.

Public schools in the State of Missouri are required to conduct an annual census of all children with disabilities or suspected disabilities from birth through age twenty (20) who reside in the district or whose parent/legal guardian resides in the district. This census is compiled as of May 1 each year. This information is treated as confidential and submitted to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Information to be collected includes: name of each child, parent/legal guardian’s name/address, birth date and age of each child, and each child’s disability or suspected disability. Should the district fail to submit an annual census, the State Board of Education may withhold state aid until the census is submitted. If you have a child with a disability or know of a child with a disability who is not attending the public school, please contact your school district.

This notice can be provided in languages such as Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese or any other language as may be necessary.

PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION 504

OF THE

REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973

Section 504 is an Act prohibiting discrimination against anyone with a handicap in any program receiving federal financial assistance. The Act defines a person with a handicap as anyone who:

1.has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, including activities such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

2.has a record of such an impairment; or

3.is regarded as having such an impairment.

In order to fulfill its obligation under Section 504, the Lakeland R-III School District recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a handicap will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices of the school system.

The school district has specific responsibilities under the Act, which include the responsibility to identify, evaluate, and, if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, afford access to educational services.

If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, she or he has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also specifies rights related to educational records. This Act gives the parent or guardian the right to: 1) inspect and review her/his child’s educational records; 2) make copies of these records; 3) receive a list of all individuals having access to those records; 4) ask for an explanation of any item in the records; 5) ask for an amendment to any report on the grounds that it is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the child’s rights; and 6) a hearing on the issue if the school refuses to make the amendment.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Lakeland R-III Special Services Director for the school district at 417-644-2223.

Lakeland R-III Schools Public Announcement

Surrogate Parent Program

Pursuant to the requirements of state law 162.997-999 RSMo, the State Board of Education is required to appoint a surrogate parent as such time as it becomes evident that a child with a disability does not have a parent as 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 surrogate parent contact person, the person responsible for the district’s special education program.