SB 26-125

Senate Bill 26-125, also known as the Disability Rights Protections in Public Schools bill, aims to prevent discrimination against students with disabilities in Colorado's public schools. It requires local education providers to ensure that these students can participate fully and equally in all school programs and activities without facing barriers or less effective services than their peers without disabilities. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official policy and local education providers must comply with its requirements to avoid penalties such as funding cuts if they violate the provisions.

Official Summary

The act prohibits a school district, a charter school authorized by a school district, a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute, the state charter school institute, or a board of cooperative services that operates one or more public schools (LEP) from discriminating against an individual who has a disability and who is entitled to a free public education (qualified student with a disability) based on the student's disability.     The act requires an LEP to allow a qualified student with a disability to participate in and enjoy the benefits of the provider's programs, services, or activities in the same manner as a student without a disability. When providing any aid, benefit, or service, an LEP shall not, based on disability:Deny a qualified student with a disability an opportunity to participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service in a manner that is equal to that afforded to other students;Provide a qualified student with a disability with an aid, benefit, or service that is not as effective as that provided to other students;Provide different or separate aids, benefits, or services to a qualified student with a disability unless such action is necessary to provide a qualified student with a disability with aids, benefits, or services that are as effective as those provided to other students;Aid or perpetuate discrimination against a qualified student with a disability by providing significant assistance to an agency, an organization, or a person that discriminates on the basis of disability in providing any aid, benefit, or service to beneficiaries of the LEP's educational program or activity; orOtherwise limit a qualified student with a disability in the enjoyment of any right, privilege, advantage, or opportunity enjoyed by students without disabilities who receive an educational aid, benefit, or service.     The act prohibits an LEP from using criteria or methods of administration that:Have the effect of subjecting a qualified student with a disability to discrimination on the basis of their disability;Have the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing accomplishment of the objectives of the LEP's program or activity with respect to a qualified student with a disability; orPerpetuate the discrimination of another LEP if both LEPs are subject to common administrative control or are agencies of the state.     In determining the site or location of a facility, an LEP may not make selections that:Exclude a qualified student with a disability from a facility or deny a qualified student with a disability the benefits of a facility, or that otherwise subject a qualified student with a disability to discrimination; orHave the purpose or effect of defeating or substantially impairing the accomplishment of the objectives of the program or activity with respect to a qualified student with a disability.     The act requires an LEP to:Adopt a disability rights grievance process that incorporates appropriate due process standards and that is satisfied by following the grievance procedures in section 504 of the federal 'Rehabilitation Act of 1973' and to designate at least one responsible employee to oversee compliance with the provisions of the act relating to discrimination and to serve as a point of contact for students and families;Make a reasonable modification to a policy, practice, or procedure when the modification is necessary to avoid discriminating against a qualified student with a disability on the basis of disability;Provide a reasonable accommodation to a parent with a disability who is seeking appropriate access to programs and activities for parents in relation to that parent's child;Ensure that a communication to a qualified student with a disability is as effective as a communication to a student without a disability and to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford a qualified student with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program, or activity of the LEP;Ensure that a qualified student with a disability is not denied access to the LEP's services, programs, or activities because of facilities inaccessible to a qualified student with a disability;Provide a free and appropriate public education to each qualified student with a disability who is in the LEP's jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the student's disability, and if necessary, ensure adequate transportation to and from any placement premises;Provide for the free and appropriate public education of each qualified student with a disability with students without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of the qualified student with a disability; Place a qualified student with a disability in the regular educational environment operated by the LEP unless it is demonstrated that the education of the student in that environment with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily;Provide nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities in such a manner as is necessary to afford a qualified student with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in the services and activities;At least annually, identify and locate every qualified student with a disability residing in the LEP's jurisdiction who is not receiving a free and appropriate public education and take appropriate steps, with the permission of the qualified student with a disability and their parent, to evaluate the student; Ensure that a qualified student with a disability is free from harassment that is sufficiently serious to create a hostile environment or interfere with or limit the student's ability to participate in or benefit from the LEP's services, activities, or opportunities; andConduct evaluations and reevaluations of a student in the student's primary language, communicate with a parent with limited English proficiency in a manner that provides meaningful access to information, and provide interpretation and translation services for communication with a parent with limited English proficiency.     Subject to sufficient funding or resources, certain provisions of the act take effect, which:Allow the department of education (department) to provide training and technical assistance to LEPs about the requirements of the act;Establish a complaint process and specifies that the department may investigate and resolve complaints of alleged violations of the provisions of the act pursuant to the complaint process;Specify the circumstances under which an individual may file a complaint with the department;Allow the department to order specified remedies as determined necessary by the department to remedy violations occurring pursuant to the act and to prospectively ensure compliance, if the department finds a violation; and Allow the state board of education (board) to withhold state funds from an LEP if the board determines that the LEP has intentionally violated the provisions of the act and demonstrated an unwillingness to enter into a corrective action plan to address the violation. No later than December 31, 2026, the board shall adopt rules that establish procedures for the withholding of funds. The board must provide due process to an LEP before state funds are withheld.     The act prohibits an LEP from coercing, intimidating, threatening, or discriminating against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by the act, the federal 'Individuals with Disabilities Education Act', the 'Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990', the 'Exceptional Children's Educational Act', or the 'Protection of Students from Restraint and Seclusion Act' (anti-discrimination laws) because an individual:Makes, has made, or because an LEP believes an individual has made or will make, a complaint pursuant to an anti-discrimination law; orTestifies, assists, or participates in any manner in an investigation or proceeding regarding an allegation or complaint pursuant to an anti-discrimination law.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Topics

Related Legislation

Votes