Establishes an office of special education services within the state education department to administer programs for children with disabilities to be headed by an assistant commissioner appointed by the board of regents.
Exempts school district providers of special services or programs for preschool students with disabilities from having to obtain program approval from the commissioner of education.
Exempts school district providers of special services or programs for preschool students with disabilities from having to obtain program approval from the commissioner of education.
Directs the commissioner of education, in consultation with the office of fire prevention and control, to develop model curriculum related to fire science for use by public high schools and boards of cooperative educational services throughout the state.
Provides that where a board of cooperative educational services has made a provisional appointment to a position and no civil service examination for such position has been conducted within nine months of such appointment, the provisional appointment shall not expire and shall be considered permanent.
Directs school districts to establish parent advisory councils on special education to advise on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities, and meet regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs.
Directs school districts to establish parent advisory councils on special education to advise on matters that pertain to the education and safety of students with disabilities, and meet regularly with school officials to participate in the planning, development, and evaluation of the school district's special education programs.
Establishes the mental health educational opportunity program and the mental health higher educational opportunity program to provide additional educational opportunities for students at certain universities and colleges in the state to enroll in academic programs that lead to a degree or degrees required for licensure in any of the mental health professions.
Provides for automatic eligibility to teacher support and retention programs for teachers employed by certain schools receiving funding for the provision of special education.