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.