Bill Summary

• Amends reasonable force standard in schools to clarify that teachers, principals, and school employees may use reasonable force to correct, restrain, or prevent harm to students, with reference changed from sections 121A.58 and 121A.67 to section 125A.0942.

• Revises individualized education program (IEP) requirements to allow districts to consider cost as a factor when choosing between equivalent and effective instruction, related services, or assistive technology devices to meet student needs.

• Changes terminology in special education evaluations from "assessment or reassessment" to "evaluation or re-evaluation" for determining eligibility and needs of children with disabilities.

• Establishes procedures for using restrictive procedures on students with disabilities, including requiring same-day or two-day parent notification and mandating IEP team meetings when restrictive procedures are used on two separate days within 30 days or when a pattern emerges.

• Authorizes the Commissioner of Education to use expedited rulemaking to implement recommendations from the 2014 Special Education Case Load and Rule Alignment Task Force report submitted February 15, 2014.