115.797(8)
(8) Program evaluation. The division may require that mediators, and may request that parties, participate in the evaluation of the mediation program. The division shall ensure that mediators and parties may participate in evaluating the program without being required to identify themselves or the other mediation participants. The division may not disclose a party's or mediator's evaluation to any other mediation participant without the party's or mediator's consent.
115.797(9)
(9) Contract for services. The department may contract with a private, nonprofit agency to administer the mediation program under this section or for mediator training or other services, including outreach and promotion, related to the administration of the program.
115.797 History
History: 1997 a. 164;
2005 a. 258,
387.
115.80
115.80
Due process hearings. 115.80(1)(a)1.1. A parent, or the attorney representing the child, may file a written request for a hearing within one year after the refusal or proposal of the local educational agency to initiate or change his or her child's evaluation, individualized education program, educational placement, or the provision of a free appropriate public education, except that, if the local educational agency has not previously provided the parent or the attorney representing the child with notice of the right to request a hearing under this subdivision, he or she may file a request under this subdivision within one year after the local educational agency provides the notice. The division shall develop a model form to assist parents in filing a request under this subdivision.
115.80(1)(a)2.
2. The parent, or the attorney representing the child, shall include in the request under
subd. 1. the name of the child, the address of the residence of the child, the name of the school the child is attending, a description of the nature of the problem of the child relating to the proposed or refused initiation or change, including facts relating to the problem, and a proposed resolution of the problem to the extent known and available to the parents at the time.
115.80(1)(b)
(b) A local educational agency may file a written request for a hearing only to override a parent's refusal to grant consent for an initial evaluation or a reevaluation or to contest the payment of an independent educational evaluation.
115.80(1)(c)
(c) A parent, the attorney representing the child or a local educational agency may file a written request for a hearing as provided in
20 USC 1415 (k).
115.80(1)(d)
(d) A parent or local educational agency, or the attorney representing a parent or local educational agency, shall file a request for a hearing under this subsection by providing the request to the other party and a copy of the request to the division. Upon receiving a request for a hearing, the division shall give to the child's parents a copy of the procedural safeguards available to the parents under
s. 115.792 and under federal regulations.
115.80(1)(e)1.1. If the parent of a child with a disability files a written request for a hearing, and the local educational agency has not previously sent a written notice to the parent under
s. 115.792 (1) (b) regarding the subject matter of the hearing request, the local educational agency shall, within 10 days of receiving the hearing request, send to the child's parent a written explanation of why the local educational agency proposed or refused to take the action raised in the hearing request, a description of other options that the individualized education program team considered and the reason why those options were rejected, a description of each evaluation procedure, assessment, record, or report that the local educational agency used as the basis for the proposed or refused action, and a description of the factors that are relevant to the local educational agency's proposal or refusal. A response by a local educational agency under this subdivision does not preclude the agency from asserting that the parent's request for a hearing is insufficient under
subd. 2.
115.80(1)(e)2.
2. A hearing may not occur until the party requesting the hearing, or the attorney representing that party, files a request that meets the requirements of
par. (a) 2. The request under
par. (a) 2. shall be considered sufficient unless the party receiving the request notifies the hearing officer and the other party in writing within 15 days of receiving the request that the receiving party believes the request does not meet the requirements of
par. (a) 2. Within 5 days of receiving a notice under this subdivision, the hearing officer shall determine whether the request meets the requirements under
par. (a) 2. and notify the parties.
115.80(1)(f)
(f) The party receiving a request for a hearing shall send to the party requesting the hearing a written response that addresses the issues raised in the hearing request within 10 days of receiving the request.
115.80(1)(g)
(g) A party filing a written request for a hearing under
par. (a) may amend its request only if the other party consents in writing and is given the opportunity to resolve the issues presented by the request at a meeting under
sub. (2m), or if the hearing officer grants permission at least 5 days before the hearing is scheduled to occur. The applicable timeline for resolution under
sub. (2m) and for a hearing under
sub. (6) recommences when the party files an amended request for a hearing. Nothing in this paragraph precludes a parent from filing a separate hearing request on an issue separate from the hearing request already filed.
115.80(2)
(2) The division shall maintain a list of qualified hearing officers who are not employed by or under contract with the department or the local educational agency, other than being appointed under this subsection, and who do not have a personal or professional interest that conflicts with the person's objectivity in the hearing, to serve as hearing officers in hearings under this section. A hearing officer must possess knowledge of, and the ability to understand, state and federal special education laws, rules, and regulations, and legal interpretations by federal and state courts. A hearing officer also must possess the knowledge and ability to conduct hearings and render and write decisions in accordance with appropriate, standard legal practice. Upon receipt of a written request for a hearing under
sub. (1), the division shall appoint a hearing officer from the list.
115.80(2m)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (c), within 15 days of receiving a request for a hearing under
sub. (1) (a) 1. and before the hearing is conducted, the local educational agency shall convene a meeting with the child's parents and the relevant members of the individualized education program team who have specific knowledge of the facts identified in the hearing request. At the meeting, the child's parents shall discuss the hearing request and the facts that form the basis of the request and the local educational agency may resolve the issues.
115.80(2m)(b)
(b) The meeting under
par. (a) shall include a representative of the local educational agency who is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the agency. The meeting may not include an attorney of the local educational agency unless the child's parent is accompanied by an attorney.
115.80(2m)(c)
(c) The parents and the local educational agency may agree in writing to waive the meeting under
par. (a) or use mediation under
s. 115.797.
115.80(2m)(d)
(d) If the child's parents and the local educational agency resolve the subject matter of the hearing request at the meeting under
par. (a), they shall execute and sign a legally binding agreement that is enforceable in the circuit court for the county in which the local educational agency is located, except that either the parent or the local educational agency may void the agreement within 3 business days of its execution.
115.80(2m)(e)
(e) If the local educational agency does not resolve the issues presented by the hearing request to the satisfaction of the child's parents within 30 days of receipt of the request, the hearing requested under
sub. (1) (a) 1. may occur.
115.80(3)
(3) Any party to a hearing conducted under this section may be accompanied and advised by counsel and by individuals with special knowledge or training with respect to the problems of children with disabilities and may present evidence and confront, cross-examine and compel the attendance of witnesses. A party shall be provided with written or, at the option of the child's parents, electronic findings of facts and decisions, and, upon request, a written or, at the option of the child's parents, an electronic, verbatim record of the hearing.
115.80(4)
(4) At least 5 business days before a hearing is conducted under this section, other than an expedited hearing under
20 USC 1415 (k), each party shall disclose to all other parties all evaluations completed by that date and recommendations based on the offering party's evaluations that the party intends to use at the hearing. The hearing officer may bar any party that fails to comply with this subsection from introducing the relevant evaluation or recommendation at the hearing without the consent of the other party. The party requesting the hearing may not raise issues at the hearing that were not raised in the notice filed under
sub. (1) (a) unless the other party agrees.
115.80(5)(a)(a) A hearing officer may administer oaths and affirmations, issue subpoenas and enforce subpoenas under
ss. 885.01 (4) and
885.12, regulate the course of the hearing and hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of the issues. The hearing officer is not bound by common law or statutory rules of evidence. The hearing officer shall admit all testimony having reasonable probative value, but shall exclude immaterial, irrelevant or unduly repetitious testimony. The hearing officer shall give effect to the rules of privilege recognized by law. A hearing officer has the authority to issue an order consistent with this subchapter and
20 USC 1415 (k) and to order whatever remedy is reasonably necessary to bring the parties into compliance with this subchapter.
115.80(5)(b)
(b) The hearing officer's decision shall consist of findings of fact and conclusions of law and shall be based upon a preponderance of the evidence. The findings of fact shall be based solely upon the evidence received at the hearing. The decision shall be made on substantive grounds based on a determination of whether the child has received a free appropriate public education.
115.80(5)(c)
(c) In matters alleging a procedural violation, a hearing officer may find that a child did not receive a free appropriate public education only if the procedural inadequacies impeded the child's right to a free appropriate public education, significantly impeded the parents' opportunity to participate in the decision-making process regarding the provision of a free appropriate public education to the child, or caused a deprivation of educational benefits. Nothing in this paragraph precludes a hearing officer from ordering a local educational agency to comply with procedural requirements.
115.80(6)
(6) The hearing officer shall issue a decision within 45 days after the conclusion of the 30-day period specified in
sub. (2m) (e). The hearing officer may order an independent educational evaluation of the child at local educational agency expense and grant specific extensions of time for cause at the request of either party. If the hearing officer grants an extension of time, he or she shall include that extension and the reason for the extension in the record of the proceedings. The local educational agency shall pay the cost of the hearing.
115.80(7)
(7) Any party aggrieved by the decision of the hearing officer may bring a civil action in the circuit court for the county in which the child resides or in a U.S. district court. An action filed in circuit court shall be commenced within 45 days after service of the decision of the hearing officer. In any action brought under this subsection, the court shall receive the records of the administrative proceedings, shall hear additional evidence at the request of a party and, basing its decision on the preponderance of the evidence, shall grant such relief as the court determines is appropriate.
Sections 227.52 to
227.58 do not apply to actions under this subsection.
115.80(8)
(8) Except as provided in
20 USC 1415 (k), during the pendency of any proceedings under this section, the local educational agency may not change the educational placement of a child unless the child's parents agree to the change. If the child is applying for initial admission to a public school, the child shall, with the consent of the child's parents, be placed in the public school program until all proceedings under this section have been completed. In this subsection, "local educational agency" includes the nonresident school district that a child is attending under
s. 118.51 or
121.84 (1) (a) or
(4).
115.80(9)
(9) A circuit court may award reasonable attorney fees and actual costs in any action or proceeding brought in circuit court under this section as provided in
20 USC 1415 (i) (3) (B) to (G).
115.80 Annotation
The "continuing violation" doctrine did not apply to defeat the one-year statute of limitations in sub. (1) (a) 1. for filing a due process hearing request. Vandenberg v. Appleton Area School District,
252 F. Supp. 2d 786 (2003).
115.807
115.807
Transfer of parental rights at age of majority. When a child with a disability, other than a child with a disability who has been adjudicated incompetent in this state, reaches the age of 18, all of the following apply:
115.807(1)
(1) The local educational agency shall provide any notice required by this subchapter to both the individual and the individual's parents.
115.807(2)
(2) All other rights accorded to the individual's parents under this subchapter transfer to the individual.
115.807(3)
(3) The local educational agency shall notify the individual and the individual's parents of the transfer of rights.
115.807 History
History: 1997 a. 164;
2005 a. 387.
115.81
115.81
Children in residential care centers. 115.81(1)(b)
(b) "Responsible local educational agency" means the local educational agency that was responsible for providing a free, appropriate public education to the child before the placement of the child in a residential care center for children and youth except that if the child resided in an institution or facility operated by the department of health services, a Type 1 juvenile correctional facility, as defined in
s. 938.02 (19), or a Type 1 prison, as defined in
s. 301.01 (5), before the placement of the child in a residential care center for children and youth, "responsible local educational agency" means the school district in which the residential care center for children and youth is located.
115.81(2)
(2) Establishment of program. Subject to the approval of the division, a residential care center for children and youth may establish and maintain special education and related services for children with disabilities.
115.81(3)(a)(a) Whenever a county department recommends to a court that a child be placed in a residential care center for children and youth or whenever a state agency anticipates placing a child in a residential care center for children and youth, the county department or state agency shall notify the responsible local educational agency.
115.81(3)(b)
(b) For each child identified in a notice under
par. (a), the responsible local educational agency shall do all of the following:
115.81(3)(b)1.
1. If the child is a child with a disability, as soon as reasonably possible and after consulting with a county department or a state agency, as appropriate, appoint an individualized education program team to review and revise, if necessary, the child's individualized education program and develop an educational placement offer.
115.81(3)(b)2.
2. If the child has not been identified as a child with a disability:
115.81(3)(b)2.a.
a. Appoint staff to review the child's education records and develop a status report for the child and send a copy of the report to the county department or state agency, as appropriate, within 30 days after receiving the notice under
par. (a).
115.81(3)(b)2.b.
b. If the responsible local educational agency has reasonable cause to believe that the child is a child with a disability, appoint an individualized education program team to conduct an evaluation of the child under
s. 115.782. The responsible local educational agency may include appropriately licensed staff of the residential care center for children and youth in the team if that staff is available. The individualized education program team shall conduct the evaluation. If the individualized education program team determines that the child is a child with a disability, the individualized education program team, in consultation with a county department or a state agency, as appropriate, shall develop an individualized education program and an educational placement offer.
115.81(4)
(4) Responsibility for educational placement. Whenever the responsible local educational agency offers an educational placement in a residential care center for children and youth under
sub. (3) (b) 1. or
2. b., all of the following apply:
115.81(4)(a)
(a) The responsible local educational agency shall do all of the following:
115.81(4)(a)1.
1. Ensure that the child receives a free appropriate public education.
115.81(4)(a)2.
2. Ensure that the child's treatment and security needs are considered when determining the least restrictive environment for the child.
115.81(4)(a)3.
3. While the child resides at a residential care center for children and youth, appoint an individualized education program team to conduct reevaluations of the child in the manner provided under
s. 115.782 (4).
115.81(4)(a)4.
4. While the child resides at a residential care center for children and youth, after consulting with the residential care center for children and youth and a county department or a state agency, as appropriate, refer the child to another local educational agency if the responsible local educational agency determines that the child's special education needs may be appropriately served in a less restrictive setting in the other local educational agency.
115.81(4)(a)5.
5. If the child is leaving the residential care center for children and youth, assign staff or an individualized education program team to develop a reintegration plan for the child in cooperation with a county department and staff of the residential care center for children and youth.
115.81(4)(b)
(b) The county department or state agency, as appropriate, shall do all of the following:
115.81(4)(b)1.
1. Consider the child's educational needs when selecting a residential care center for children and youth for the child.
115.81(4)(b)2.
2. In cooperation with the responsible local educational agency and staff of the residential care center for children and youth, participate in the individualized education program team evaluation of the child and the development of the individualized education program for the child.
115.81(4)(b)3.
3. Notify the local educational agency that will be responsible for providing a free, appropriate public education to the child whenever the county department or state agency anticipates removing the child from the residential care center for children and youth.
115.81(4)(b)4.
4. In cooperation with the responsible local educational agency and staff of the residential care center for children and youth, develop a reintegration plan for the child if the child is leaving the residential care center for children and youth.
115.81(4)(b)5.
5. Pay all of the residential care center for children and youth related costs of educating the child while the child resides in the residential care center for children and youth.
115.81(4)(c)
(c) Whenever a local educational agency receives a referral under
par. (a) 4., the local educational agency shall assign staff to determine whether the child can appropriately receive special education and related services provided in the local educational agency. If the assigned staff determine that the child can appropriately receive special education and related services in the local educational agency, the local educational agency shall provide such services for the child and is eligible for state tuition payments under
s. 121.79 (1) (a). If the assigned staff determine that the child cannot appropriately receive special education and related services in the local educational agency, the local educational agency shall keep a written record of the reasons for that determination.
115.812
115.812
Placement disputes; school board referrals; interagency cooperation. 115.812(1)
(1)
Placement disputes. If a dispute arises between a local educational agency and the department of children and families, the department of corrections, or a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22, or
46.23, or between local educational agencies under
s. 115.81 (4) (c), over the placement of a child, the state superintendent shall resolve the dispute. This subsection applies only to placements in nonresidential educational programs made under
s. 48.57 (1) (c) and to placements in residential care centers for children and youth made under
s. 115.81.
115.812(2)
(2) School board referrals. Annually on or before August 15, each local educational agency shall report to the appropriate county departments under
ss. 51.42 and
51.437 the names of children who reside in the local educational agency, are at least 16 years of age, are not expected to be enrolled in an educational program 2 years from the date of the report and may require services described under
s. 51.42 or
51.437 (1). This subsection does not affect a local educational agency's responsibility to make services available to children with disabilities.
115.812(3)(a)(a) A school board, cooperative educational service agency and county children with disabilities education board may enter into an agreement with a county administrative agency, as defined in
s. DHS 90.03 (10), Wis. Adm. Code, to allow the employees of the school board, agency or county children with disabilities education board to participate in the performance of evaluations and the development of individualized family service plans under
s. 51.44.
115.812(3)(b)1.1. In this paragraph, "public agency" has the meaning given in
s. 323.60 (1) (i), except that it excludes a local educational agency.
115.812(3)(b)2.
2. If a public agency that is required by federal or state law or by an interagency agreement to provide or pay for the location, identification or evaluation of a child with a disability, including a child with a disability who is not yet 3 years of age, or for assistive technology devices or services, supplementary aids or services, transition services or special education or related services for a child with a disability, and fails to do so, the local educational agency shall provide or pay for the services. The public agency shall reimburse the local educational agency for the cost of providing the services.
115.817
115.817
Children with disabilities education board. 115.817(1)(1)
Definitions. In this section "board" means the county children with disabilities education board.
115.817(2)(a)(a) A county board of supervisors may determine to establish a special education program, including the provision of related services for children with disabilities, for school districts in the county.
115.817(2)(b)
(b) The program may provide for one or more special schools, classes, treatment or instruction centers for children with one or more types of disabilities.
115.817(2)(c)
(c) A school district shall be included under the county program only to the extent approved by formal action of the school board.
115.817(3)(a)(a) The board shall consist of 3 or more persons, as determined by the county board of supervisors, elected by the county board or appointed by the chairperson of the county board, as the rules of the county board direct. Board members shall be electors selected from that part of the county participating in the program and shall be representative of the area the board serves. The board may include school board members, members of the county board of supervisors and other electors. Board members shall hold office for a term of 3 years, except that the terms of office of members of the first board shall be 3 years, 2 years and one year. Board members shall receive compensation and reimbursement for mileage in an amount fixed by the county board of supervisors, but not more than that of county board members.
115.817(3)(b)
(b) The board annually shall select one member as chairperson and one as secretary. The county treasurer shall serve as board treasurer but shall not be a member of the board.
115.817(3)(c)
(c) The board shall appoint an advisory committee whose membership includes school district administrators representative of the area the board serves.
115.817(4)
(4) Application. Upon authorization of the county board, the board shall apply to the division for the establishment of a program or part of a program to provide special education and related services. The application shall state whether the program or part will be available in the county at large or only to certain school districts.
