What does the law state regarding changes in placement and IEP services?

• A. Students may only transfer to a different educational facility between academic years.
• B. An environmental transition may only occur at the explicit request of a student's caregiver.
• C. Services do not need to be provided during student suspensions of 10 days or fewer.
• D. The IEP should specify the appropriate limit on the number of suspension days for a student.

Answer: (C)

The rationale for why this choice is correct lies in the provisions outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). According to IDEA, when a student with a disability experiences a suspension of 10 days or fewer, the school does not have an obligation to provide educational services during that suspension period. This is important as it establishes a clear boundary regarding the expectations for schools when disciplining a student with special needs.

In contrast, the other statements do not align with the legal requirements established by IDEA or best practices in special education. For instance, the notion that students may only transfer to different educational facilities between academic years is a misunderstanding of the flexibility allowed in educational placements. Additionally, it is not accurate that an environmental transition can only happen at the caregiver’s explicit request, as changes can be made based on the student's needs as determined by the IEP team. Furthermore, while there are guidelines in place for determining the appropriateness of suspension days, there is no requirement for the IEP to specify an exact limit on suspension days, as it varies based on the context of each case and the overall IEP goals for the student.