HF1803

This bill modifies requirements for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in Minnesota. Key changes include:

1. IEP Requirements: School districts must ensure that students with disabilities receive appropriate special instruction and services. The IEP must be tailored to each student’s needs, including consideration of the least restrictive environment and cost-effective options.

2. Medical Documentation: Before classifying a student’s disability under certain rules, evaluation teams must obtain written documentation of the student’s medically diagnosed condition from a licensed physician or health care provider.

3. Transition Planning: The IEP must address a student’s transition from secondary to postsecondary education, employment, and independent living starting in grade 9, unless the parent requests a delay until age 16. Parents must be informed of the full range of transitional goals.

4. Early Childhood Services: Children with disabilities under age five must receive appropriate special education services.

5. Parental Rights: Parents have the right to participate in decisions regarding their child's disability assessment and educational placement, with procedural safeguards in place.

6. Evaluation Standards: Eligibility for special education services must be based on evaluations, including consideration of existing data, and assessments must be conducted in a non-discriminatory manner.

7. Inclusion in General Education: Students with disabilities are to be educated with nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate, with removal to special classes occurring only when necessary.

8. IEP Plan Amendments: The bill directs the Minnesota Department of Education to amend rules so that IEPs only require measurable annual goals, eliminating the need for benchmarks or short-term objectives.

The bill mandates rulemaking to implement these changes.