This bill seeks to amend Section 16-24-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-24 entitled "Children with Disabilities" in order to clarify the duty of school committees to provide special education to children with disabilities. The bill states that school committees must provide special education that best satisfies the needs of the child with a disability, as recommended and approved by the state board of education. Additionally, the bill states that parents of children with disabilities in private schools have the same rights and remedies as parents of children in public schools, as outlined in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The bill also defines a parentally placed child who has, or develops, a disability in private school and outlines the responsibilities of the public school district in providing education services to these children.

Overall, this bill aims to ensure that children with disabilities receive appropriate special education services, regardless of whether they attend public or private schools. It also provides a legal framework for enforcing the rights and remedies of parents and guardians of children with disabilities in private schools.

Statutes affected:
2095: 16-24-1