38-2218. Educational decisions; educational advocates for exceptional children. (a) When the court has granted legal custody of a child in a hearing under the code to an agency, association or individual, the custodian or an agent designated by the custodian shall have authority to make educational decisions for the child if the parents of the child are unknown or unavailable. When the custodian of the child is the secretary, and the parents of the child are unknown or unavailable, and the child appears to be an exceptional child who requires special education, the secretary shall immediately notify the state board of education, or a designee of the state board, and the school district in which the child is residing that the child is in need of an education advocate. As used in this section, a parent is unavailable if:

(1) Repeated attempts have been made to contact the parent to provide notice of an IEP meeting and secure the parent's participation and such attempts have been unsuccessful;

(2) having been provided actual notice of an IEP meeting, the parent has failed or refused to attend and participate in the meeting; or

(3) the parent's whereabouts are unknown so that notice of an IEP meeting cannot be given to the parent. As soon as possible after notification, the state board of education, or its designee, shall appoint an education advocate for the child.

(b) If the secretary changes the placement of a pupil from one school district to another or to another school within the same district, it shall be the duty of the secretary to transfer, or make provision for the transfer, of all school records of such pupil to the district or school to which the pupil is transferred. Such school records shall be transferred at the same time that the pupil is transferred or as soon as possible thereafter.

(c) As used in this section, the terms "exceptional child," "special education," and "education advocate" have the meanings respectively ascribed thereto in the special education for exceptional children act, K.S.A. 72-3403 et seq., and amendments thereto. The term "pupil" means a child living in a school district as a result of a placement therein by the secretary pursuant to this code.

History: L. 2006, ch. 200, § 13; Jan. 1, 2007.