| Are you the parent of a child with autism or a learning | | | | Several issues on stay put: |
| disability that has filed for a special education due | | | | 1. The child's stay put placement and the child's IEP |
| process hearing? Are you disagreeing with special | | | | must be completely implemented (this means special |
| education personnel about the placement of your child, | | | | education and related services also). |
| during the due process hearing? Did you know that | | | | 2. Stay put applies from the time the parent files for a |
| IDEA 2004 states that a child has the right to a stay | | | | due process hearing. |
| put placement, until due process hearings are finished | | | | 3. The school district is basically maintaining the status |
| or resolved? This article will discuss what stay put | | | | quo. |
| placements are during due process hearings. | | | | 4. The school district is prevented from unilaterally |
| The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) | | | | changing your child's placement. Parents must be a |
| states under 300.518 that: during the pendency of any | | | | part of any decision to change placement. |
| administrative or judicial proceeding regarding a due | | | | 5. School districts can change personnel but the |
| process complaint notice. . . the child involved in the | | | | services must be comparable. |
| complaint must remain in his or her current educational | | | | 6. Parents may agree to change the child's placement |
| placement. What this means is that if your child is in a | | | | during the due process if they feel that the current |
| placement, and you file for a due process hearing, the | | | | placement is inappropriate. |
| child stays in that placement until the due process is | | | | By understanding stay put for special education due |
| settled or resolved. | | | | process hearings, you will be able to determine what |
| For Example: Your child with autism is attending a | | | | advocacy route that you would like to take, for your |
| private school at public expense. The school district | | | | child. Filing for a due process hearing and revoking stay |
| recommends changing your child's placement to a | | | | put can keep your child in an appropriate placement |
| school district program, which you think is inappropriate | | | | for a certain period of time. You would then have to |
| to meet your child's needs. If you file for a due process | | | | prove to a hearing officer that the current placement |
| hearing, your child would stay in the private school until | | | | meets your child's educational needs, and that the |
| your due process was resolved or finished. The last | | | | placement needs to be continued. |
| agreed upon placement is considered stay put! | | | | |