This section defines key terms and says a PRTF must meet staffing, registration, and approval requirements to qualify as a Nonpublic Exceptional Children’s Program.
The following definitions apply in this Part: (1)“Educational services” means appropriate education-related assessment and instruction provided to any child residing in a private psychiatric residential treatment facility, including special education and related services to a child with a disability as defined in G.S. 115C-106.3(1). An education-related assessment includes the determination of need for special education and related services. (2)“Nonpublic Exceptional Children’s Program” means a facility-based school that meets all of the following criteria: a.Provides at least one teacher for every 14 students. The PRTF shall report exceptions to this requirement to (i) the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (MH/DD/SAS) to request additional funding for educational services as provided under G.S. 122C-451(d) to the extent that funds are available and, if funds are not available, (ii) the Department of Public Instruction to request a waiver from this requirement. b.Provides at least one teacher with a North Carolina Professional Educator license in special education, if there is a child with a disability as defined in G.S. 115C-106.3(1) residing in the PRTF. c.Registers with the Department of Administration, Division of Nonpublic Schools, under Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes. d.Has been approved by the Department of Public Instruction to provide educational services as promulgated by the rules adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act. (3)“Private psychiatric residential treatment facility” (PRTF) means a facility, other than a hospital, that provides psychiatric and other behavioral health services as described in Subpart D of C.F.R. Part 441 of Chapter 42 to individuals under age 21 in an inpatient setting licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services as provided under Chapter 122C of the General Statutes. A PRTF does not include a State-operated facility. History: History.2014-100, s. 8.39(e).