Placement in special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of a student from the regular education environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in a regular class with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

Purpose/Function:

Provide services to students 3 to 26 years of age with a severe autism spectrum disorder. These classrooms are for students who exhibit; moderate to severe cognitive impairment, aggressive behaviors, and self-injurious behaviors.

• Classrooms for pre-k through 5th will be operated by Bozymowski Elementary and students
• 6th grade and above will be operated by Bozymowski Secondary.

Referrals to these programs require an ASD Consultation indicating the need for a more restrictive placement (refer to requirements in the ASD Consultation Section). A more restricted placement referral should only be initiated after strategies recommended by the ASD Consultant are implemented with fidelity and documented data indicates strategies are unsuccessful and the student needs a more supportive environment.

Frequency:

Year Round School Calendar

Referral Process:

1. Form 2 signed by Director of Special Education and parent , is submitted to MISD Director of Center Programs.
     
2. If the referral is being made by a LEA/MISD Center Program, please send a copy of the referral to the Resident District.
     
3. For School-of-Choice (105-in-county) students in your district, you are the resident district, therefore no notification to any other district is required.
     
4. For School of Choice (105c out-of-county), a written cooperative agreement must be approved between the resident district, enrolling district, the resident ISD, and the Macomb ISD Assistant Superintendent of Special Education.
     
5. Referral materials must include:
   - Current Eligibility Report(s) and REED
   - Current Speech and Language Report

- Current IEP
- Functional Behavior Assessment
- Birth Certificate
- Immunization Record
- Autism Consultation Report
- SWISS/PowerSchool Behavior Data
- Current Psychological Testing

• Verbal/nonverbal Cognitive Scores
• Achievement Scores
• Standardized Adaptive Scale
• Autism Assessments (ADI - R, ADOS - G, CARS, GAER)

- Current Teacher Report

-  Team Meeting Notes

-  Current Social History

Referral Response:

1. After receiving the referral materials, the MISD Director of Center Programs will review the packet. The following may occur:
   - Contact LEA, missing information (this may delay process)
   - Determine appropriateness of referral to MISD Autism Program.
      
2. If referral to Autism Program is determined appropriate:
   - A copy of Form 2A Report of Recommended Disposition will be sent to the appropriate administrator of the Autism Program and the Director of Special Education of the referring school district.
       
3. The sending district is responsible for all arrangements for the IEP.
   - The sending district is responsible for scheduling and inviting all appropriate participants to the IEP.
   - The Center Program TieNet Liaison will provide access to the Autism Program Program for the purpose of reviewing TieNet documents.
   - The sending district initiates the IEP including the PLAAFP, Student Summary, Programs and Services, Special Factors, Personal Care - Low Incidence, Assessment, Transition, and Medicaid.
   - Bozymowski Autism Program will collaborate with LEA and establish goals.

-  The sending district designee chairs the meeting in cooperation with the Bozymowski administrator/designee.
     

4.  Required members of the IEP Team at a minimum consist of:
- The sending school district
- The receiving school district
- The resident district, if not the sending or receiving district
- The parent and the student (if appropriate)
- A General Education Teacher (if appropriate)

• Member of the MET Evaluation Team

Outcomes:

If a center program placement is determined through the IEP to constitute the least restrictive option for the student, the outcome is placement.

Exceptions:

Expedited Form 2 Placement Process - this is for students coming out of a long-term, very restricted, separate facility, who clearly needs the most restrictive educational setting. The LEA District must:

1. Have parent establish proof of residency within their district
2. Have parent register with resident district
3. Immediately contact the Director of Center Programs to discuss the student and previous programs and services.
4. Complete Form 2 with required signatures
5. Attach most current IEP, MET/REED and/or supporting documentation indicating educational need for most restrictive placement
6. Deliver completed hard copy packet to Center Programs
7. LEA Director/Supervisor will be directed to the appropriate Center Program Administrator.

Out-of-State students will require a REED and the district should conduct a MET and/or review characteristics for eligibility by State of Michigan requirement to ensure that the student meets Michigan eligibility requirement. The resident district may request the assistance of the appropriate Director of the LEA/MISD Center Program.

International students moving into the county suspected of having severe cognitive, physical and or behavioral disability, the resident district should immediately conduct a full and comprehensive evaluation. The resident district may request the assistance of the appropriate Director of the LEA/MISD Center Program.

Visitations Policy:

After Recommended Form 2A Disposition, Autism Program Administrator/Designee will contact the resident district to arrange a visitation whereby, the parent and student will come to Bozymowski Elementary or Bozymowski Secondary classroom/s.

Timeline:

Upon receipt in Center Programs of the signed and completed Form 2 Referral, the procedures may be completed within 30 school days.  Situations occur that may delay the referral process, such as, incomplete referral packets, students in the juvenile justice system, hospitalization, out of date evaluations, etc.

Resident district must continue to offer FAPE until LEA/MISD Center Program placement occurs.  For fall placement, complete Form 2 referral packets must be received in Center Programs between April 1st and May 1st.  This will allow for the Centers to arrange IEP's and Transportation.

Forms:

Form 2 signed and dated by Parent and Special Education Director
See Also: Autism Process Chart

Updated: August, 2019