special education plans

As a public school, Mountain Village Charter School is required to follow any student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.  Mountain Village Charter School will not discriminate against any child with a disability as defined in RSA 186-C. Under New Hampshire’s charter school statute, RSA 194-B:11, III, when a child with disabilities attends a chartered public school, all current options available to the parent and the school district are retained. For IEPs, MVCS works with the sending school district; 504 Plans, on the other hand, are developed internally at MVCS.

IEPs vs 504 plans

IEPs are developed under a federal law specific to the education of students with disabilities and are used when students require specialized instruction to meet educational goals. A 504 plan, on the other hand, are used when a student needs accommodations or modifications to programs and facilities. For example, a student who needs special instruction for reading, will have an IEP plan that may require meeting with a reading specialist twice a week. A student that uses a wheelchair, however, would qualify for a 504 plan, which may require changes to be made within a classroom or school building. 504 plans can also be developed for students with ADHD, anxiety, or other medical diagnoses, to ensure equal access to educational opportunities within the classroom, with accommodations such as extended testing time, preferential seating, or verbal assessments. For more details on how these plans differ, click HERE.

We realize that addressing the special educational needs of your child can be intimidating. Being informed about the IEP or 504 processes (see below) are key to understanding how the sending school district and MVCS can best support your student.

individualized education plans

In order to ensure appropriate and adequate services for MVCS students, our administration creates an IEP team for each student with disabilities. This team consists of, at minimum, a representative from the sending school district, the student’s parent or guardian, and a representative from Mountain Village Charter School. You can access the MVCS IEP process HERE. If your student requires an IEP referral, this process begins at your sending school district.

School District Special Education Responsibility

ED 1104.01, effective 6/28/08, sets forth the following sequence of the special education process:

(a) Referral;

(b) Evaluation;

(c) Determination of eligibility;

(d) Development and approval of the IEP; (e) Placement;

(f) Ongoing monitoring of the IEP; and (g) Annual review of the IEP.

It is clear pursuant to RSA 194-B:11, III, that decision-making responsibility for the special education process for children with disabilities attending a public charter school remains with the child’s sending school district. In addition, RSA 194-B:11, III provides that the sending school district remains responsible for the funding for children with disabilities attending a chartered public school. Any federal funding or other funding available to a sending district related to special education, to the extent and in a manner acceptable to the funding source, shall also be directed to the receiving chartered public school on an eligible per pupil basis pursuant to RSA 194-B:11, IV.

These important provisions allow the responsible sending district and the Mountain Village Charter School to cooperate creatively to meet a student’s special education needs. The sending district will be required to provide the Mountain Village Charter School with a complete copy of each student’s IEP for implementation and monitoring purposes.

504 plans

At MVCS, students are offered a variety learning strategies because we believe that students do not all learn the same. The flexibility of Montessori classrooms enables our teachers and staff to make individualized adjustments to make learning more widely accessible to students. If a teacher or staff member sees a concerning trend in a student’s work or behavior, teachers and staff work with the student’s family to develop and implement different supports or learning interventions in the classroom. If the concerns continue despite these efforts, sometimes a student requires a 504 Plan. There are two primary pathways to developing a 504 plan: MVCS-initiated and family-initiated (with a doctor’s diagnosis of a qualifying disability). For details on the MVCS 504 process, click HERE.

special education support

The Parent Information Center (PIC) is an excellent resource for families who need guidance in the IEP or 504 process. From letter templates to initiate the IEP process, to trained volunteer parent advocates who can provide support and guidance, this should be your first stop on your IEP journey.

It is important to remember that YOU are your child’s best advocate. If you have concerns about your child’s learning, speak up! Meet with your child’s teacher to address your concerns- they are there to help.

links to resources

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS

PARENT INFORMATION CENTER

MVCS IEP PROCESS

MVCS 504 PROCESS

IEP or 504?