Correction to Administrative Letter #2 2015 – Special purpose private school tuition rates

Administrative Letter Number: 2
Policy Code: BG/CH
To: Superintendents of Schools, Business Managers/Bookkeepers
From: William H. Beardsley, Acting Commissioner
Date: January 13, 2016
Re: Correction to Administrative Letter #2 2015 – Special Purpose Private School Tuition Rates

The MUSER citation and following explanatory text of the second paragraph of Administrative Letter #2 for 2015 is incorrect.

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Parental consent for evaluation guidance

The Maine DOE is offering important guidance regarding parental consent for evaluation. Before a school administrative unit (SAU) may conduct an evaluation (e.g., intellectual testing, psychological evaluation, or speech/language testing) of a student, it must first obtain the signed, written consent of the student’s parent. In making an informed decision whether to provide consent, the parent is entitled to know the areas to be evaluated and the purpose of the evaluation (how the evaluation results will be used).

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Changes in oversight of educational program for State wards in out-of-state programs

In an effort to better meet the needs of children who are in the legal custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, who are placed residentially by that agency in an out-of-state program, and who are receiving special education services, the Maine Department of Education will be assuming responsibility for overseeing the educational programming for those children as the State is responsible for them.

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Timeline for review of out-of-unit placement

When a child with a disability is placed by his or her Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Team in an out-of-unit placement, the Maine Unified Special Education Regulation Birth to Age Twenty (MUSER) Section IX.3.H requires the IEP Team to reconvene 30 days subsequent to the date the child begins to attend school, where he child has been placed, to review the IEP and make any revisions required.

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U.S. Education Department announces new guidance to help students with disabilities as part of 40th anniversary of IDEA law

The following press release from United States Department of Education reflects Maine policy and continued mission in many aspects as the Department continues to review policy and guides school districts on the IDEA Law.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the U.S. Education Department is releasing guidance aimed at ensuring that America’s 6 million children and youth with disabilities have the same opportunity for a quality education as their nondisabled peers.

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Special purpose private school tuition rates

Administrative Letter Number: 2
Policy Code: BG/CH
To: Superintendents of Schools, Business Managers/Bookkeepers
From: William H. Beardsley, Acting Commissioner
Date: November 5,  2015
Re: Special Purpose Private School Tuition Rates

Pursuant to Title 20-A, Chapter 303, subchapter 3§7302, the Maine Department of Education Special Services team has authorized rates for the 2016 state fiscal year.

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