15-1342. Admissions

A. Chapter 7, article 4 of this title governs admissions to the school except as provided in this section. The evaluation and consideration of placement in the school shall be made under the direction of the chief administrative official of the school district or accommodation school within the boundaries of which the child resides or a person designated by the official as responsible for special education after consultation with the parent, as defined in section 15-761, of the child. If a parent or legal guardian of a child directly refers a child to the state school for the deaf and the blind, the school shall immediately after notification of referral contact the chief administrative official of the school district or accommodation school within the boundaries of which the child resides. The chief administrative official shall arrange for the establishment of a placement and evaluation team for that child.

B. A placement and evaluation team shall determine the appropriate educational placement for the child based on the development of an individualized education program. Each placement and evaluation team shall document that it has advised the parent or legal guardian of all placement options. The placement and evaluation team shall consist of at least the following persons:

1. The parent or legal guardian of the child.

2. An administrator from the school district in which the child resides.

3. A certified teacher of the sensory impaired who provides or may provide in the future educational services to the child.

4. An evaluator, with preference given to an evaluator who is trained and experienced in evaluating the educational needs of sensory impaired children.

5. A representative of the school.

C. The individualized education program plan of a child continuing in special education placement from the prior school year shall be reviewed annually and revised if necessary. The individualized planning conference shall include a representative of the school district of residence and a representative of the school, the child's teacher, the parent, as defined in section 15-761, of the child and, if appropriate, the child.

D. Except as provided in subsection F of this section, the chief administrative official of the school district or accommodation school within the boundaries of which the child resides or a person designated by the official as responsible for special education shall place the child according to the recommendations of the individualized education program team.

E. A child who is placed in the school but moves from one school district or county to another may remain placed in the school until the next annual review. A representative of the child's new district of residence shall be included on the team conducting the review. The superintendent of the school shall at least quarterly give the chief administrator of the school district or accommodation school notice of any changes in a child's residence.

F. If the chief administrator of the school district or accommodation school or his designee and the superintendent of the school determine that the school cannot provide the appropriate educational programs and services needed by the child, they shall locate or establish a program to meet the child's needs in consultation with the department of education and any other appropriate state agency.

G. A complete record of every person admitted shall be kept from the date of his admission to the date of his discharge or death. The records shall be accessible to the board or a legislative committee or upon order of a judge of a court of record.

H. If there is any question regarding the propriety of the placement or admission of any person received in the school, the governing board of the school district or accommodation school within the boundaries of which the child resides or the board of the school shall make an investigation and take such action as it deems proper.

I. No political or religious belief shall be required as a qualification of any student of the school.