FILE: IDDFA
SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Acadia Parish Special Education Advisory Council shall provide advice and recommendations regarding special education policies, procedures, and resources. The council shall also engage in outreach activities to the community at large to increase the level of knowledge, support, and collaboration with respect to special education.
The number of council members and composition of the council shall be determined by the Superintendent. The Superintendent shall appoint the council members in accordance with the following statutory requirements:
Except as included herein, fifty percent (50%) of the membership shall be parents or legal guardians of students with an exceptionality, other than gifted and talented, who are enrolled in a school under the jurisdiction of or who are receiving special education services from the School Board, none of whom shall be employees of the School Board. One high school student with an exceptionality, other than gifted and talented, and one person who represents an entity that serves students with disabilities or families of students with disabilities and who is not an employee of the School Board may be counted to meet the requirement.
At least ten percent (10%) of the membership shall be special education stakeholders who are not represented by council members selected under the provisions of 1 and 3 hereof.
At least one member shall be a teacher, principal, or paraprofessional who serves students with disabilities and who works in a school under the jurisdiction of the School Board.
In selecting council members, an effort shall be made to include parents of students in elementary, middle, and high school grades.
A council should be comprised of at least eight (8) members. If a council has fewer than eight members, the Superintendent shall provide an explanation of his/her decision to establish a council with fewer than eight (8) members. The explanation shall be provided to the council, and the council shall include it as an addendum to the report required below.
The Superintendent shall designate the chairperson of the council. The chairperson shall be responsible for calling the council’s meetings, preside over the meetings, and establish the agendas for the meetings, all in consultation with the Superintendent.
The Special Education Advisory Council shall meet at least three (3) times during a school year. All meetings of the Special Education Advisory Council shall be subject to the same policies and statutory provisions as regular, special, and committee meetings of the School Board. All meetings shall be open to the public, except in those instances allowed as provided by state law. A majority of the committee membership shall constitute a quorum for holding a meeting and making recommendations. Minutes shall be taken of the proceedings of all Special Education Advisory Council meetings. A written report shall be prepared by the Special Education Advisory Council and submitted to the Superintendent in May of each year regarding its activities. The Superintendent shall ensure that the report is posted on the School Board's website, and all such reports shall be submitted to the state Department of Education.
No liability or cause of action against the public school district, public charter school or other public school, or any officer or employee thereof for any action taken by members of the Special Education Advisory Council.
New policy: October 7, 2019
Revised: October 3, 2022
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:1944.1, 42:12, 42:13, 42:14, 42:15, 42:16, 42:17, 42:19, 42:20, 42:24, 42:25
Board minutes, 10-7-19, 10-3-22
Acadia Parish School Board