HB 5321 Summary

• Requires school boards to notify parents/guardians at least five school days before proposing or refusing to initiate or change a child's special education identification, evaluation, placement, or services.

• Allows parents, guardians, pupils, or surrogate parents to request a pre-meeting with a planning and placement team member before the formal referral meeting to discuss the process and concerns.

• Entitles school paraprofessionals assigned to children in special education to receive adequate notice of planning and placement team meetings, training upon request on their role, and the right to view the child's educational program.

• Requires school boards to monitor child development through mobile application registrations or validated screening tools and send reminders at six months and one year if parents do not complete developmental screenings.

• Mandates school boards annually report to the Commissioner of Education detailed information on paraeducators employed, including job titles, hourly pay rates, hours worked, health care contributions, and calculated annual salaries.