Child Find and Service Plan Services for Students that live in Coweta, but attend a Private School Outside of Coweta County:

If a child lives in Coweta County but attends a private school in another county and needs evaluation for special education and eligibility consideration, the district where the private school is located is responsible for child find - evaluation and eligibility and providing service plan services. Please contact the special education department of the district where the private school is located.

Child Find Procedures for Students attending a Private or Home School in Coweta County:

Child find applies to children with disabilities parentally-placed in private schools in Coweta County or home schools. They not entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE), but the district will provide services based on a proportionate share of federal funds.

If a child is suspected of having a disability that is parentally placed in a private school or home school in Coweta County and needs evaluation for special education and eligibility consideration, please contact the special education department at 770-254-2800 for a referral packet.

Once a request for an evaluation is received, the referral packet is mailed to the parent. Also Refer to Parent Requests for an Evaluation Procedures.

Once the completed referral packet is received, the school district team reviews the request and all relevant information regarding the student to determine if the request for special education evaluation and eligibility consideration request is accepted or not accepted.

If the request is accepted, a letter will be sent to the parent along with parental consent for special education evaluation form, evaluation instruments description, and parent rights. An evaluation will be completed within 60 days from the receipt of the signed consent to evaluate (for initial referrals only) and then an eligibility meeting held.

If the student is eligible for special education services and consent for services signed, the IEP team will develop an IEP (if the student is a resident of Coweta County) and offer these services.

If the parent chooses to enroll the child, the IEP team will implement the IEP services once the student is enrolled.

If the parent chooses to continue the student’s placement in a private school, the the IEP will be will finalized but not implemented until the parent enrolls the student in Coweta Schools.

A service plan will be offered in accordance with Coweta County's proportionate share services. Refer below to decisions regarding proportionate share services.

If the request is not accepted, a letter and prior written notice will be sent to the parent indicating the information reviewed and why the system is denying the request and other options the system may be recommending or offering along with a copy of parent rights.

If the parent disagrees with the system's decision, the parent has the right to request a due process hearing.

Procedures for students who attend private school in Coweta County but are not Coweta County residents:

If the child does not live in Coweta County but attends a private school in Coweta County, the private and home school procedures above will be followed for the evaluation and eligibility.

If it is determined a special education evaluation and eligibility consideration is accepted, the county will evaluate the child and the eligibility team will determine eligibility as indicated above.

It is the responsibility of the parent to notify the eligibility status to the district of residence after the eligibility meeting. The district of residence is responsible for offering IEP services, not Coweta County Schools.

If the student attending a private school in Coweta County is found eligible for speech and an IEP developed by the district residence, then a Service Plan can be developed for Coweta County speech services if available and only as indicated below in the proportionate share services.

Private School Flowchart from DOE

Preschool Private and Child Find Flowchart

Determining Proportionate Share Procedures Click Here

Proportionate Share Meeting:

The meeting for the 2020-2021 school year was sent via video and google slides to private school representatives and parents on May 21st, 2020 due to school closure during the COVID-19 Pandemic. In this presentation, the Coweta County Special Education Department shared information and requested additional feedback from private school representatives and parents of parentally-placed private school students with disabilities regarding the child find process, the determination of how the proportionate share funds are calculated, how to meaningfully participate throughout the school year, and determine the special education and related services to be provided for private school students with disabilities.

Presentation Shared for Input on May 21st, 2020

Final Presentation May 28th, 2020 After Meeting and Input

Proportionate Share Letter May 21st 2020

Proportionate Share Service Plan Services Determined for 2020-2021:

Speech services for ages 3 to 6 for 30 minutes a week at a location determined by the SLP. (age 6 as of 9/1/20).

Speech caseload max is 25.

Once caseload max is met, students will remain on a waiting list until a spot opens.

Provide 2 or more Trainings/Workshops in: Social Emotional Regulation and Communication and Executive functioning and/or Pragmatic Communication. (trainings provided as funds are available)

Services were determined based on student numbers as indicated in the previous slides and the input received. SDD services for private church preschools were requested and are not being provided due to the amount, student numbers, and student needs in this area. Services chosen all services to be provided to all disability group and needs. This request will be reviewed again for the following year if needed. Review slide 12 in the presentation regarding Disputes and Appeals if needed.

All services and trainings are dependent on final funds determined in the fall.

There may be a waiting list for speech services through a Service Plan, so prior to offering a Service Plan, the eligibility team will contact the Special Education Office to determine if there is space available for services based on the school system's proportionate share. If space is available, then a Service Plan will be written to provide speech services. The IEP will be reviewed and written annually. If the student does not enroll, a new Service Plan will be written after the annual review is developed as long as the student remains eligible.