15-1342. Admissions

A. Chapter 7, article 4 of this title governs admissions to the school except as provided in this section. The evaluation and consideration of placement in the school shall be made under the direction of the chief administrative official of the home school district within the boundaries of which the child resides or a person designated by the official as responsible for special education after consultation with the parent, as defined in section 15-761, of the child. If a parent or legal guardian of a child directly refers a child to the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind, the schools shall immediately, after notification of the referral, contact the representative of the home school district within the boundaries of which the child resides. A representative of the home school district shall arrange for the establishment of a placement and evaluation team for that child.

B. A placement and evaluation team shall determine the appropriate educational placement for the child based on the development of an individualized education program. Placement and review of the individualized education program may be conducted at the same meeting.  Each placement and evaluation team shall document that it has advised the child's parent or legal guardian of all placement options. The placement and evaluation team shall consist of at least the following persons:

1. The parent or legal guardian of the child.

2. A representative from the home school district in which the child resides who meets all of the following requirements:

(a) Is qualified to provide or supervise the provision of specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities.

(b) Is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum.

(c) Is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the public agency.

3. A certified teacher of children with a sensory impairment who provides or may provide in the future educational services to the child.

4. An evaluator, with preference given to an evaluator who is trained and experienced in evaluating the educational needs of children with a sensory impairment.  The evaluator may also be a member of the team pursuant to paragraph 2 or 6 of this subsection.

5. An educational representative of the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind.  The educational representative may also be a member of the team pursuant to paragraph 3 of this subsection.

6. If the child is or will be participating in the regular educational environment, at least one regular education teacher.

7. If appropriate, the child with a disability.

C. The individualized education program plan of a child continuing in special education placement from the prior school year shall be reviewed annually and revised if necessary. The individualized planning conference shall include a representative of the home school district and a representative of the schools, the child's teacher, the parent, as defined in section 15-761, of the child and, if appropriate, the child.

D. The Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind shall hold a placement meeting for a child who is enrolled in a campus-based model at least annually to review the child's placement status and shall invite a representative of the child's home school district.  If a determination is made that the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind is no longer the least restrictive environment, the home school district shall enroll the child.

E. Except as provided in subsection G of this section, a representative for special education of the home school district shall place the child according to the recommendations of the individualized education program team.

F. A child who is placed in the school but moves from one school district or county to another may remain placed in the school until the next annual review. A representative of the child's new district of residence shall be included on the team conducting the review. The superintendent of the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind shall at least quarterly give the chief administrator of the school district notice of any changes in a child's residence and the new district of residence shall become the new home school district.

G. If the chief administrator of the home school district and the superintendent of the schools determine that the schools cannot provide the appropriate educational programs and services needed by the child, they shall locate or establish a program to meet the child's needs in consultation with the department of education and any other appropriate state agency.

H. A complete record of every person admitted shall be kept from the date of the person's admission to the date of the person's discharge, release, removal, graduation or death. The records shall be accessible to the board or a legislative committee or on order of a judge of a court of record.

I. A political or religious belief shall not be required as a qualification of any student of the schools.