Parentally Placed Private School Students (PPPSS)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B (IDEA 2004) requires that school districts locate, identify and evaluate at public expense students who are parentally placed at private schools and who are suspected of having disabilities and needing special education or related services. This is part of the school districts responsibility, known as Child Find. 

Child Find services include:

• Assistance in determining if a private school student may need special education services.
• Reevaluation of parentally placed private school students with disabilities

Question: Which school district is responsible for Child Find activities (i.e., evaluations) when the district the child resides in differs from the district where the private school is located?

Answer: Districts must conduct Child Find activities for all children attending nonprofit private schools, including religious schools, located in their jurisdiction, to identify students who are in need of special education and related services or may need a reevaluation. Note, if the private school operates as a for-profit school, then the district where the student resides is responsible for Child Find activities.

Question: What is the responsibility of the district regarding Child Find activities for parentally-placed private school students?

Answer: Child Find activities must ensure equitable participation and an accurate count of parentally-placed private school students with disabilities enrolled in nonprofit private schools. In carrying out Child Find for parentally-placed private school children, districts must undertake activities similar to those undertaken for their publicly enrolled students.

If you are the parent or guardian of a child in a private school who may need an initial evaluation or needs a reevaluation, please contact Susan Kennedy at 386-734-7190 x50909 or complete the Request for Assistance.

FDLRS Child Find Information

Volusia County Schools uses a Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to support students struggling in the general education classroom. Students suspected of having a disability are referred to our Individual Problem Solving Team. Our IPST uses a data driven process that assists students, families and teachers in seeking positive solutions for all students.

The primary goal of the MTSS is to support teachers, and parents, by generating effective research- based academic and behavioral strategies for individual targeted students. 

Resources

Not-for-profit private schools in Volusia County are invited to affirm with VCS for services. Each year a service delivery model is determined through consultation between private schools and VCS Non Public Services .

The current service delivery model provides the following supports and services to private school students with disabilities attending affirmed private schools and to the staff that serves them:

• Volusia County Public Schools will provide direct services in the form of speech/language therapy to eligible parentally-placed private school students with disabilities who are identified as Speech Impaired and/or Language Impaired. These services, in the form of speech/language therapy, will be provided on a public school campus, after the school day, with a VCS speech/language pathologist. Direct services in the form of speech/language therapy will be delivered in accordance with each eligible student’s services plan.
• Volusia County Public Schools will provide indirect services in the form of general, large group training sessions to teachers and guidance counselors who work with parentally-placed private school students with disabilities.
• Volusia County Public Schools will provide indirect services in the form of individualized and/or small group customized trainings from an ESE certified teacher to private school personnel who work with identified (IDEA eligible) students with disabilities at private schools.
• Volusia County Public Schools will provide indirect services in the form of access to Mindplay Virtual Reading Coach and Ascend Math programs to be used with students with disabilities who are having difficulties in the areas of reading and mathematics.

Speech and Language Therapy

Volusia County Public Schools provides direct services in the form of speech/language therapy to eligible, parentally-placed private school students with disabilities who are identified as Speech Impaired and/or Language Impaired. Requests for speech therapy need to be submitted by the parent. To request speech and language services, and verify your student's eligibility, please contact our office at pppssoffice@volusia.k12.fl.us.

More information can be found on our ESE Programs and Services page.

Professional Development

Volusia County Schools provides professional development training, by an ESE certified teacher, to private school personnel who work with parentally placed private school students with disabilities and identified (IDEA eligible) students with disabilities at private schools. Here is a list of some popular workshops VCS provides. Please contact Susan Kennedy at 386-734-7190 x34790 to schedule a workshop or to inquire about trainings not mentioned on the flyer.

Services Plan (SP)

The District will work cooperatively with approved contracted agencies (when applicable), private school representatives, and parents of parentally-placed private school students (PPPSS) with disabilities to identify students who are eligible to receive services under this IDEA (2004) requirement. Services Plan meetings will be scheduled and held for each eligible student whose parents want their child to receive services. The District encourages the participation of parents and private school representatives in this process. Services Plans describe the special education services that the District will provide to each student who will receive services. 

Variance Requests

School Board Policy 203 provides parents with the opportunity to apply for a school other than their assigned-zoned school. Variance applications are available at all Volusia County Schools and may be picked up during regular school hours. Early application is encouraged.

Variance Contact

Gifted Program Website

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