December 21, 2007
To the Administrator Addressed:
Subject: Electronic Submission of Policies and Procedures for the Local Education Agency (LEA)
Pursuant to 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §300.201, the local education agency (LEA), in providing for the education of children with disabilities within its jurisdiction, must have in effect policies, procedures, and programs that are consistent with the State policies and procedures established under 34 CFR §§300.101 - 300.163 and §§300.165 - 300.174.
Legal Framework
Region 18 Education Service Center (ESC), the statewide lead for the Legal Framework for the Child-Centered Process, has worked closely with the Texas Education Agency to provide leadership to the State in the development of the Legal Framework which contains federal and state statutes guiding the education of students with disabilities in Texas. These rules and regulations are the procedures described in 34 CFR §300.201. The Legal Framework IDEA 2004 is located on the web at www.esc18.net.
The Legal Framework’s individual frameworks contain the procedures for the state. The Legal Framework provides a venue for the local districts, charter schools and other state agencies to link their policies to the procedures outlined in the frameworks housed on the Legal Framework site at www.esc18.net. The individual frameworks are dynamic and are constantly being revised to reflect reauthorized laws, new statutes, federal regulations and commissioner rules. When schools and agencies utilize the Legal Framework to link to their policies, they can be assured of being current.
Deadline for Submission
The deadline for the online submission of LEA policies and procedures is February 1, 2008.
Training
The Legal Framework Phase III, “Roadmap to Success” training and technical assistance for linking and or uploading of current policies to the state procedures electronically will be provided for local education agencies by each Regional Education Service Center. This training will be provided by December 21, 2007.
Future Updates to Policies and Procedures
All local education agencies (LEAs), including school districts, charter schools, and the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Texas School for the Deaf, the Texas Youth Commission, and the Windham School District will utilize the Legal Framework for linking and or uploading updated policies to the state procedures on a continual basis.
Technical Assistance
For questions concerning or information about the electronic submission of current policies to the state procedures in the Legal Framework, contact the Legal Framework representative at your regional Education Service Center.
Sincerely,
Gene Lenz
Deputy Associate Commissioner for Special Programs, Monitoring, and Interventions
