<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".08" citation="COMAR 13A.05.01.08" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="05" chapter_num="01" heading="Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team Responsibilities.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>IEP Development.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A public agency shall ensure that an IEP team meets to develop an IEP for a student with a disability within 30 days of the evaluation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Transition from a Local Infants and Toddlers Program.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If a child transitioning from a local infants and toddlers program is determined to be a student with a disability or developmental delay in accordance with Regulation .06B of this chapter, the public agency shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Ensure that an IEP team meets in a timely manner to determine a child’s eligibility for special education and related services before the child’s third birthday;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Invite the child’s local infants and toddlers service coordinator or other representatives of the local infants and toddlers program to assist with a smooth transition of services, consistent with Regulation .07A(8) of this chapter; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Ensure that the student’s IEP is in effect on the student’s third birthday in accordance with Regulation .09 of this chapter if a child’s family chooses to receive preschool special education services.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The IEP team shall consider the student's individual family service plan when developing the child's IEP, in accordance with §A(2)(a)(i) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In developing an IEP, the IEP team shall consider and document:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Strengths of the student;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Concerns of the parent for enhancing the education of the student;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Results of the initial or most recent evaluation;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Communication needs of the student;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Whether the student requires assistive technology devices and services;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>The results of the student's performance on Statewide, district-wide, or alternative assessment programs, as appropriate; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>The academic, developmental, and functional needs of the student.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>If a student's behavior impedes the student's learning or the learning of others, the IEP team shall consider strategies, including positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports, to address that behavior, as appropriate.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>If a student is limited English proficient, the IEP team shall consider the language needs of the student as these needs relate to the student's IEP.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Blind or Visually Impaired Students.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If a student is blind or visually impaired, the IEP team shall provide for instruction in:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Braille and the use of braille, including textbooks in braille, unless the IEP team determines that instruction in braille is not appropriate for the student in accordance with 34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iii), Education Article, §8-408, Annotated Code of Maryland, and COMAR 13A.06.05.01; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Orientation and mobility, unless the IEP team determines that instruction in orientation and mobility is not appropriate for the student in accordance with Education Article, §8-408, Annotated Code of Maryland, and §A(6)(b)—(d) of this regulation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If the IEP team determines that instruction in orientation and mobility is not appropriate for the student, the IEP team shall order an orientation and mobility assessment, consistent with guidelines established by the Department, that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Includes input from the student’s parent or guardian;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Includes input from the student’s classroom teacher; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Takes into consideration the student’s age, current and future needs, ability to function in familiar and unfamiliar areas, and ability to function under various lighting conditions.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>To be qualified to conduct an orientation and mobility assessment under §A(6)(b) of this regulation or provide orientation and mobility instruction, an individual shall:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Hold a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Have completed any one of the credentialing options listed in §A(6)(d) of this regulation.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Credentialing Options. To meet the credentialing requirement under §A(6)(c) of this regulation, an individual may:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Hold a certificate as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP);</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Hold National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC) from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB); or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>Complete all requirements of a university-based program in orientation and mobility, including a supervised internship or externship in orientation and mobility.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>If a student is deaf or hard of hearing, the IEP team shall consider the student's:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Language and communication needs;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Opportunities for direct communication with peers and professional personnel in the student's language and mode of communication; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Academic level and full range of needs, including opportunities for direct instruction in the student's language and mode of communication.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>When considering the factors as described in §A(3)—(7) of this regulation, if the IEP team determines that a student with a disability needs a particular device or service, including intervention, accommodations, or other program modifications, to receive FAPE, the student's IEP shall include a statement to that effect.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>As a member of the IEP team, a regular education teacher of the student shall, to the extent appropriate, participate in the development of the student's IEP. Participation includes assisting in the determination of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Appropriate positive behavioral interventions and strategies for the student; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Supplementary aids and services, program modifications, and supports for school personnel, consistent with 34 CFR §300.320(a)(4) and Regulation .09A(1)(d) of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>The IEP team shall consider a student's need for transportation as a related service as defined in Regulation .03B(65) of this chapter to assist a student to benefit from special education in accordance with 34 CFR §300.34.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>Each public agency shall ensure that hearing aids or the external components of surgically implanted medical devices worn in school by students with hearing impairments are functioning properly, in accordance with 34 CFR §300.113.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>IEP Review.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A public agency shall ensure that the IEP team meets periodically, but not less than annually, to review and revise the IEP, as appropriate, to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Determine whether the annual goals for the student are being achieved;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Address any lack of expected progress in the annual goals or in the general curriculum;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Review data and information from assessment procedures conducted as part of the reevaluation in Regulation .06 of this chapter, as appropriate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Address any information about the student provided to or by the parent;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Address the student’s anticipated needs;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Address planning for emergency conditions; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Discuss other matters, as identified on the notice of the IEP team meeting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Extended School Year Services.</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>At least annually, the IEP team shall determine whether the student requires the provision of extended school year services in accordance with Education Article, §8-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The IEP team shall consider:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Whether the student's IEP includes annual goals related to critical life skills;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Whether there is a likelihood of substantial regression of critical life skills caused by the normal school break in the regular school year and a failure to recover those lost skills in a reasonable time;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iii)">
          <text>The student's degree of progress toward mastery of IEP goals related to critical life skills;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(iv)">
          <text>The presence of emerging skills or breakthrough opportunities;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(v)">
          <text>Interfering behaviors;</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vi)">
          <text>The nature and severity of the disability; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(vii)">
          <text>Special circumstances.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Following the consideration of factors described in §B(2)(b) of this regulation, the IEP team shall determine whether the benefits the student with a disability gains during the regular school year will be significantly jeopardized if that student is not provided with an educational program during a normal break in the regular school year.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A parent of a student with a disability or a public agency may request a meeting at any time to review and, as appropriate, revise the student's IEP.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>After the annual IEP meeting for a school year, the parent of a student with a disability and the public agency may agree to develop a written document amending or modifying a student's IEP without convening an IEP team meeting as described in §B(1) of this regulation, in accordance with 34 CFR §300.324(a)(4).</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>Changes to a student's IEP may be made by:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The student's IEP team, in accordance with §B(1) of this regulation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Amending the student's IEP without redrafting the entire IEP, in accordance with §B(4) of this regulation.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>If a student's IEP is amended, the public agency shall ensure the IEP that incorporates the amendments is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Accessible to the student's service providers, as described in Regulation .09D(5) of this chapter; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Provided, on request, to the student's parent, consistent with 34 CFR §300.324(a)(6).</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>