I.  Introduction 

Good morning Chairman Bean and Committee Members. I am Larry Keough, representing the Florida Catholic Conference in matters of education policy.  

I am also a parent of five children, two of whom have special needs.  

I’d like to thank Speaker Rubio and Rep. Gardiner for their leadership, as well as the Select Committee on Autism and Developmental Disorders, for children with disabilities to be in a position to receive the medical and education services they need to have an opportunity to lead a normal life as much as possible and assimilate into society.  

II.  Seamless System

We are encouraged with the proposal for a seamless system in which newborns and preschoolers could be screened, evaluated and receive the services they need as they transition under Part C and Part B of IDEA. We understand that the gap in services between three and four year olds that Rep. Harrell raised would have to be addressed.

I talked to my colleagues at the FDOE last night about the IEP requirement for children in parentally placed private sector programs and schools. I was told that an IEP for parentally placed children under Part B of IDEA will be addressed. However, I have asked to voice my concerns here today.

It is my understanding that children who are parentally placed in private sector programs and schools under Part B of IDEA do not have entitlement to special education services. It then follows that they would not have entitlement to obtain an IEP.

Because eligibility in the McKay program would be based on children having an IEP, we are not sure how a child in a private sector VPK program would have an IEP.

Thank you.