Notice to Private & Homeschool Representatives

May 21, 2025

To: Private-Home School Representatives

Coffee County Schools has a duty under federal legislation entitled the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) to seek out and evaluate students suspected of having educational disabilities and provide appropriate service. Under IDEA 2004, the Coffee County School System is required to consult with representatives of private schools and with parents about the provision of special education and related services for parentally-placed private school children attending private schools within the school system’s jurisdiction. Homeschool students also fall within this category. A consultation meeting will be held Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Coffee County Board of Education-Ashley Slater House Building, 211 South Gaskin Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533.

The following topics will be discussed during the consultation process:
- The child find process and how parentally-placed private school children suspected of having a disability can participate equitably in special education and related services, including how parents, teachers, and private school officials will be informed of the process.
- The determination of the proportionate amount of federal funds available to serve parentally-placed private school children with disabilities, including determination of how the amount was calculated.
- The consultation process among the local educational agency, private school officials, and representatives of parents of parentally-placed private school children, including how the process will operate throughout the school year to ensure that parentally-placed private school children with disabilities identified through the child find process can participate in special education and related services.
- How, where, and by whom special education and related services will be provided for parentally-placed private/home school children with disabilities, including a discussion of types of services, including direct services and alternate service delivery mechanisms, how such funds will be apportioned if funds are insufficient to serve all children, and how these decisions will be made.
- If local educational agency disagrees with the views of the private school officials on the provision of services or types of services, whether provided directly or through a contract, the local educational agency shall provide to the private school officials a written explanation of the reasons why the local educational agency chose not to provide services directly or through a contract.

If you have any questions, you may contact Kelly Edge, Special Education Director at 912-389-6760.

Sincerely,
Kelly Edge
Special Education Director