The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students with disabilities, prekindergarten through 22 years old, be provided a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment.  In a few cases, FAPE is provided through contracted services with the Clarke School.

Clarke School in Jacksonville provides services to children who are deaf and/or hard of hearing with listening, learning and spoken language skills.  The district contracts with Clarke to serve preschool age students or those students who are not otherwise eligible for a McKay scholarship.  The focus on auditory/oral education requires extensive training and accessing Clarke services through a contract is a less expensive alternative to providing those services in-house. 

The district has contracted services with Clarke School for a small number of disabilities since 2008.

The district will continue to contract with Clarke School for the small number students who require auditory/oral education services.

Strategy 1.3: Prepare all students to be full option graduates who are prepared for college, eligible to enlist in military services or able to compete in the workforce

Approve Agreement as submitted.  Contract previously approved on May 7, 2020 agenda but subsequent revision to one sentence in paragraph 13 was agreed upon by both parties.