Special Education Rules and Policies

Overview

Special Education is governed by several federal and State laws, rules, and regulations as well as local policy and procedure. The following tabs contain a non-exhaustive list of resources and links for schools, districts, parents, and students to learn more about the various sources of law that govern or inform Special Education Services.

Contact

Jordan DeHaan
Dispute Resolution Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7541 | E-mail

Special Education Rules

Utah State Board of Education Special Education Rules (November 2022)
Effective January 2023

Utah

R277: Education, Administration
R277-800: Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB)
Utah Office of Administrative Rules

Student Data Privacy
Utah State Board of Education

For information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and student data privacy.

Federal

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Regulations
United States Department of Education

Model Policies and Procedures

Utah State Board of Education Model Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual Directions

Charter Schools Local Education Agencies (LEAs)
Revised 2023

Charter Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual Alternative Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Eligibility Method

Charter Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual Combination SLD Eligibility Method

Charter Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual Response to Intervention (RtI) SLD Eligibility Method

Public School District LEAs
Revised 2023

District Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual Alternative SLD Eligibility Method

District Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual Combination SLD Eligibility Method

District Special Education Policies and Procedures Manual RtI SLD Eligibility Method

Contacts

Jordan DeHaan
Dispute Resolution Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7541 | E-mail

Leah Voorhies
Assistant Superintendent of Student Support State, Director of Special Education
Phone: (801) 538-7898 | E-mail

Resources

Educational Equity: Section 504

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 impose broader eligibility standards than those of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Therefore, a student not found eligible under the IDEA may still be eligible for special education or related services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or Title II of the ADA.

Section 504
Utah State Board of Education Educational Equity

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Guidance

OSEP policy documents provide information, guidance and clarification regarding implementation of the IDEA through Policy Support Documents and Policy Letters.

OSEP Policy Documents
United States Department of Education

Contacts

Jordan DeHaan
Dispute Resolution Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7541 | E-mail

Holly Bell
Student and Family Rights Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7828 | E-mail 

Technical Assistance

Educational Interpreters 

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Membership

Service Animals in Schools: Legal Requirements and Technical Assistance

Contacts

Jordan DeHaan
Dispute Resolution Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7541 | E-mail

LauraLee Gillespie
Utah Program Improvement Planning System (UPIPS) Coordinator
Phone: (801) 538-7866 | E-mail

Due Process Hearings

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Special Education Rules, the USBE, after deleting any personally identifiable information, must make complete due process findings and decisions are available to the public.

34 CFR § 300.513: Hearing Decisions
United States Government Publishing Office (GPO)

The USBE maintains redacted copies of due process decisions for a period of ten years following the issuance of a decision. There are no due process hearings decisions or findings during the following years: 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Contact

Jordan DeHaan
Dispute Resolution Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7541 | E-mail

Jessica Lamb
Dispute Resolution and At-Risk Specialist
Phone: (385) 295-7873 | E-mail

Procedural Safeguards

The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Special Education Rights of Parents and Children Procedural Safeguards Notice and Annual Parent/Guardian Notices (Child Find, Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, and Medicaid).

Special Education Rights of Parents and Students Procedural Safeguards
This resource is intended as a brief overview of some of the special education rights of parents and students. Please reference the complete procedural safeguards manual below for more details.

Procedural Safeguards Notice (Written English)

Procedural Safeguards Notice (Spoken English):

إشعار الضمانات الإجرائي (Arabic)

Conselho de Educação do Estado de Utah Direitos de pais e alunos à educação especial NOTIFICAÇÃO DE GARANTIAS PROCESSUAIS (Portuguese)

GUDIGA WAXBARASHADA EE GOBALKA UTAH XUQUUQDA WAXBARASHADA GAARKA AH EE WAALIDIINTA IYO CARUURTA OGAYSIISKA BADQABKA HAWSHA (Somali)

Junta de Educación del Estado de Utah Derechos de educación especial de padres y estudiantes NOTIFICACIÓN SOBRE GARANTÍAS PROCESALES (Spanish)

NGAAHI ‘U TOTONU ‘I HE AKO MAKEHE MA’AE MATU’A TAUHI FANAU MO E LONGA’I FANAU ‘I HE POATE AKO ‘A E SITEITI ‘IUTA KO E TOHI FAKATOKANGA KI FOUNGA NGAUE KE TAUHI ‘A E TAUHI MALU (Tongan)

Hội Đồng Giáo Dục Tiểu Bang Utah Quyền Giáo Dục Đặc Biệt của Phụ Huynh và Học Sinh THÔNG BÁO CÁC BIỆN PHÁP BẢO VỆ THEO THỦ TỤC (Vietnamese)

Although Utah does not have a Navajo translation for the USBE Procedural Safeguards Notice, the New Mexico Public Education Department has translated its Safeguard Notice to Navajo for the public.

Áłchíní bich’į’ ‘anádahaztiígíí t’áá yidaneel’ą́nígo ‘ániltsogo na’nitingo ‘ódahaoołaah hazą́ąjí Ámá dóó azhe’é ba’áłchíní bich’į’ anídahazt’ígíí bee hazáanii bee bá ‘ahóót’ígo binahjį́ bił bééhóznigo saad bá’ałkéé sinilígíí. (Navajo)
New Mexico Public Education Department

Contact

Jordan DeHaan
Dispute Resolution Specialist
Phone: (801) 538-7541 | E-mail