NC 1500-2.37 Special Education

Plain English summary

This regulation defines 'special education' as specially designed instruction provided at no cost to parents to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities, including instruction in various settings and physical education. It enumerates qualifying services such as speech-language pathology, travel training, and vocational education, and provides detailed definitions for each component term. The regulation establishes the foundational scope of what constitutes special education under NC policy.

Key requirements

• Special education means specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.
• Special education includes instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings.
• Special education includes instruction in physical education.
• Special education includes speech-language pathology services, travel training, and vocational education if the services otherwise meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(1).
• At no cost means that all specially designed instruction is provided without charge but does not preclude incidental fees that are normally charged to nondisabled students or their parents as a part of the regular education program.
• Specially designed instruction means adapting, as appropriate, to the needs of an eligible child under these Policies, the content, methodology, or delivery of instruction to address the unique needs of the child that result from the child's disability and to ensure access of the child to the general curriculum.
• Travel training means providing instruction to children with significant cognitive disabilities, and any other children with disabilities who require this instruction, to enable them to develop an awareness of the environment and learn skills necessary to move effectively and safely from place to place.
• Vocational education means organized educational programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for paid or unpaid employment, or for additional preparation for a career not requiring a baccalaureate or advanced degree.

Affected parties

• children with disabilities
• parents of children with disabilities
• public agencies providing special education
• speech-language pathologists
• physical education instructors
• vocational education providers
• children with significant cognitive disabilities

Official source

https://www.dpi.nc.gov/documents/publications/catalog/ec144-policies-governing-services/open#page=20