Connecticut Association of Schools
ENQUIRER
A Tom Mooney In Their Lives substantial risk. (Mooney has seri-
den disability may be identified by
ous concerns about this latitude.)
parents requesting an evaluation.
All children with dis- abilities, if
•
excluded for more than 10 days
dents or 50 days of suspensions,
from the learning environment,
or more than ten days of expul-
must have a PPT. Previously, it had
sion, before you can move to full
to be determined if the disabil-
expulsion, you must first go for a
ity caused the conduct. Now it is
special education review.
assumed it did unless you prove
•
otherwise. An IEP must be appro-
must be put in students’ cumula-
priate and in place. You must show
tive record.
the child’s disability didn’t impair
•
the ability of the child to control
notify the superintendent of any
the situation. You have up to 10
arrests. With the law amended this
days for this. If a student is exclud-
year, police may now appear as re-
ed for more than 10 days, you are
quested by the BOE in any matters
obligated to convene a PPT and set
involving arrests and possible sus-
up behavioral plans. The IEP could
pensions/expulsions. Police have
state that education would be in
a duty to cooperate with informa-
an alternative setting and/or could
tion given as “confidential to the
provide services in another way.
hearing.”
• You cannot remove a student
You are encouraged to read and
from a class more than two
have for your personal library Tom
If a student has ten inci-
Disciplinary interventions
The Chief of Police must
times a week or six times a year without going to an
Mooney’s book on School Law. It may be one of the best in-
informal suspension hearing. In and out of school sus-
vestments you could ever make. Our thanks to Tom Mooney
pensions are viewed as the same.
for sharing his time and expertise with us.
• In regular education, there is no such thing as a “hidden disability;” however, in special education, the administrator’s knowledge of a disability is presumed or a hid-
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