Consultation is essential for ensuring that LEAs provide parentally placed private school children with disabilities an opportunity for equitable participation in programs assisted or carried out under IDEA. LEAs are required to consult with both private school representatives and parent representatives of parentally placed private school children with disabilities. The consultation process should occur throughout the school year so that parentally placed private school children with disabilities identified through the child find process can meaningfully participate in special education and related services as determined as a result of the consultation process.

Consultation meetings should include a discussion of the following topics:

• The child find process, including:

• how children suspected of having a disability can participate equitably; and

• how parents, teachers, and private school representatives will be informed of the process.

• The determination of the proportionate share of federal IDEA funds, including the determination of how that share was calculated.

• How, where, and by whom special education and related services will be provided including a discussion of:

• the types of services, including direct services and alternate service delivery mechanisms;

• how special education and related services will be apportioned if funds are insufficient to serve all parentally placed private-school children with disabilities; and

• how and when these decisions will be made.

• The consultation process among the school district, private school representatives, and representatives of parents of parentally placed private school children with disabilities, including how the process will operate throughout the school year to ensure meaningful participation of these children in special education and related services.

• How the LEA will provide a written explanation to the private school representatives if the LEA disagrees with their views on the provision of services or the types of services.