By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Public School System wants to revise its policies and regulations regarding disabled students so it can extend its educational special services to those enrolled in private schools.
PSS, through the Board of Education, said the move will be to ensure compliance with federal law and avoid duplication and possible conflict between federal law and local procedure.
According to the proposed changes, PSS will ensure that all children with disabilities including those attending private schools, are identified and evaluated.
PSS will locate, identify, and evaluate all 3 to 21 year-old children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools, including religious schools, who may be eligible for special education and related services.
PSS will now offer free and appropriate public education to all children with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private schools.
Pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a child enrolled in a private school has no individual right to receive some or all of the special education and related services that the child would receive if enrolled in a public school.
PSS said special education and related services provided to students enrolled in private schools will be determined in accordance with federal law, state eligibility documents, state performance plans and special education procedures.
For effective implementation, PSS said it will “consult with private school representatives and representatives of parentally placed private school children with disabilities during the design and development of special education and related services.”
PSS wants specific instructional services to be accorded to students with disabilities in private schools as cited in the proposed new policy.
PSS adopts the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard for the purpose of providing instructional materials to blind persons or other persons with print disabilities,” the new policy stated, adding that PSS will coordinate with the National Instructional Material Access Center as part of any print instructional materials adoption process, procurement contract, or other practice or instrument used for the purchase of print instructional materials.