Okla. Admin. Code § 612:20-3-6

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 612:20-3-6 - Admission to OSB and OSD

(a)Eligibility to OSB. Title 70 O.S. Supp.1978, Sec. 1733 states: "All persons, residing in the State of Oklahoma, between the ages of six and twenty-one years, whose vision is so defective as to prevent them attending the public schools... are eligible, provided persons may be continued in said school after passing the age of 21, or persons under six and over 21, may be admitted as pupils in said school at the discretion of the superintendent and faculty."

(b)Eligibility to OSD. Title 70 O.S. Supp.1978, Sec. 1733 states: "All deaf residents of this State, and those deaf and mute to such an extent that they cannot acquire an education in the common schools of the State, of suitable age and capacity... shall be entitled to an education in the school for the deaf, without charge." Title 70 O.S., Sec. 1734(1971) states: "The purpose of said school shall be the physical, and moral and intellectual culture and training of the deaf to the end that pupils may be returned to society, capable of becoming self-sustaining and useful citizens."

(c)Authority for admission and discharge. Title 56 O.S. Sec. 321(1971) provides for the transfer of the Schools for the Blind and the Deaf, and states in part: "The Oklahoma Public Welfare Commission shall have the supervision, management and control of the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf, and, in addition to the powers and duties now vested in the State Board of Education as to each of such institutions, shall have authority to adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the government and operation of each institution, and for the admission and discharge of pupils at each institution." Title 74 O.S. Sec. 1418(1993) transferred the supervision, management, and control of the Oklahoma School for the Blind and Oklahoma School for the Deaf to the newly created Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(d)Procedure for admission. Application is made to the schools by the parent or guardian of the child. Forms for this purpose may be obtained from the schools. Prior to admission, an appointment will be made for the prospective student to be assessed. Information from the assessment plus previous school records will assist the Admission/Assessment Review Committee in determining appropriate programming. Parents will be informed by the superintendent of their child's acceptance or denial of admission. All new students are accepted on a six week trial basis during which time an extended evaluation is conducted.

(e)Assessment and I.E.P. development. No later than six weeks after admission, the Admissions/Assessment Review Committee at each school makes an assessment of the child to determine if continued enrollment of the child is appropriate and in the child's best interest and develops a goal-oriented plan for each child. Medical, social, educational, psychological, ophthalmological or audiological needs and assessment of ability to benefit from the total program of the school should be included in this assessment and plan. Particular attention should be given to the child's potential to adjust in group living situations. Observations of all personnel having contact with the child should be considered in the evaluation process. Based upon the assessment, the Evaluation Committee recommends to the superintendent whether continued enrollment in the school seems appropriate. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) be developed for each child. The IEP will be developed and implemented for each child at the Schools for the Blind and Deaf according to guidelines as specified in 20 U.S.C., 1400 - 1485 regulations. Students not accepted for admission will be referred to the school district of residence, and assistance provided in determining a more appropriate placement.

(f)Appeal of denial of admission or discharge. If as a result of screening a child is denied admission or is discharged as a result of no longer meeting visual or hearing eligibility requirements or having attained the age of 21, the decision may be administratively appealed. When a child is denied admission or is discharged, a letter is sent from the superintendent to the parents/guardians advising them of the denial/discharge, the specific eligibility factors not met by the child, and of the right to appeal by written request to the Director within 30 days.

(g)Suspension. Should the superintendent approve, a student may be suspended for conduct violating a specific rule, and previously identified and published as being of a type for which suspension may be imposed.

(1)Summary suspension and appeal. Summary suspension is defined as a suspension of ten days or less. For infractions occurring in the academic area, the suspension could be only from attending classes but not from the campus. Summary suspension is imposed using the following process:

(A) An oral or written report of the conduct and rule violated must be submitted to the discipline committee;

(B) The student is called before the committee, who gives the student oral or written notice of the charge, basis for the charge, and proposed sanction (one to ten days suspension);

(C) If the student denies the charge at this discussion, he will be permitted to present openly and fully his version of the facts;

(D) If the committee decides to suspend, inform the student and invoke the penalty;

(E) A full report is then submitted to the superintendent who has the authority to affirm, modify, or reverse the decision;

(F) The superintendent submits a report of the entire incident to the parents/guardian of the student and to the Director, Department of Rehabilitation Services; and

(G) The student and/or his parents/guardian may appeal the Superintendent's decision to the Director by letter. No hearing is granted, but after full investigation, the Director may affirm, modify, expunge the record, reverse, or order such action as is deemed necessary to assure fairness.

(2)Lengthy suspension and appeal. A lengthy suspension is anything in excess of ten days up to the statutory maximum of the current semester and the succeeding semester which could be imposed. The procedure is analogous to the above with the additional notification of the school district of residence that educational programming for one of their students has been temporarily discontinued. This will enable the student and the local school district to consider alternative programming.

(3)Return from discharge or suspension. Failure of a student to return to the school after a summary suspension, without reasonable cause, will result in discharge of the student. Return of students after discharge or a lengthy suspension will be handled as a regular application for admission.

Okla. Admin. Code § 612:20-3-6

Added at 10 Ok Reg 4643, eff 9-1-93 (emergency); Added at 11 Ok Reg 2459, eff 7-1-94