The goal of special education in TLC Charter Schools is consistent with the goal of regular education: to support students in developing the knowledge and skills they require to live meaningful, self-fulfilling lives with as much independence as possible in their communities. We will support the education of students with special learning needs within the regular classroom setting as the first choice of placement. Only when the regular classroom placement does not meet the needs of the students will alternative settings on a part time or full time basis be considered.
Consistent with Section 427 of GEPA and Arizona Administrative Statutes, Article 4, R7-2-40 1. 1.13, TLC Charter Schools, Inc. shall create public awareness of special education opportunities and shall advise parents of the rights of handicapped children. We will provide written procedures to assure that information regarding the rights of handicapped children is made available in language and phraseology that will be understandable to parents, regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or cultural background.
TLC Charter Schools shall document its annual efforts to create public awareness of special education and to inform parents of the rights of handicapped children. When appropriate, we shall initiate procedures to obtain a surrogate parent if there is no parent or guardian able to act as parent.
TLC Charter Schools shall seek out and identify those children ages birth to 21 (through Child Find) who require special education and shall develop and implement procedures for locating handicapped children who are not in school or who do not have access to a special education program, and shall provide an appropriate program for these children.(Please refer to the "News" link for specific information or visit the website - Arizona Early Intervention Program (orAzEIP) .)

The written individualized education program for each child shall include a statement of the child's present levels of educational performance; annual goals; measurable short-term instructional objectives; specific special education and related services to be provided to the child (if no related services are to be provided, this fact must be stated); a description of the extent to which the child will be able to participate in regular education programs and the extent to which the child will be able to participate with non-handicapped children in nonacademic and extracurricular activities; the projected dates for initiation and the anticipated duration of services; objective criteria, evaluation procedures, and schedules for determining whether instructional objectives are being achieved on at least an annual basis.

TLC Charter Schools shall provide a copy of the procedural safeguards to the parents of a child with a disability upon: initial referral for evaluation; each notification of an IEP meeting; reevaluation of the child; and receipt of a request for due process. The procedural safeguards notice shall include a full explanation of all of the procedural safeguards available, e.g. an independent educational evaluation; prior written notice; parental consent; access to educational records; opportunity to present complaints to initiate due process hearings; and child's placement during pendency of due process hearings.

A parent may initiate a due process hearing pertaining to: evaluation and related procedures; eligibility; written notice; proposal to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of a free appropriate public education to the child; refusal to initiate or change the identification, evaluation, or educational placement of the child or the provision of a free appropriate public education to the child; written consent of the parent or guardian. There shall be no change in the educational placement of the child until the hearing officer renders his decision, unless the agency and parent agree to this. The Charter Schools may initiate a request for a due process hearing if the parent refuses to accept evaluation results or recommendations for special education placement. If a parent requests a due process hearing, the TLC Charter Schools shall advise the parents of any free or low-cost legal services available. The hearing officer shall preside at the hearing and shall conduct the proceedings in a fair and impartial manner.

TLC Charter Schools shall ensure that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, are educated with children who are non-disabled; and that special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

TLC Charter Schools shall seek teachers who meet all Arizona licensure and certification requirements that apply to the area in which the individuals are providing special education or related services (AAC,R7-2-610).

Our complete Policies & Procedures can be viewed by download Policy & Procedures.

Our Policies & Procedures for FERPA and confidentiality of student records can be viewed by download FERPA