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![]() ![]() School nurses must be knowledgeable about the special education process because federal and state legal mandates must be followed for students who are in special education or are being evaluated for special education. Students who are disabled are protected under the law and have rights, privileges, and protections that are meant to afford them equal opportunity under the law: Federal Special Education Regulations Minnesota Special Education Regulations Definition of Special Education The Role of the Licensed School Nurse in the Special Education Process
Minnesota Department of Education Q & A: Related Service, 3-17-2011 retrieved March 29, 2011 from http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/Compliance/documents/FAQ/019946.pdf The following document is available for your use. The Role of the Licensed School Nurse in the Special Education Process was developed by the Special Education committee of the School Nurse Organization of Minnesota. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Role of the Licensed School Nurse in the Special Education Process
Once you are familiar with the above document "The Role of the LSN in the Special Education Process", the SNOM Special Education Committee recommends that you use the following tool, Licensed School Nurse Assessment of Health/Physical Status, as a guide when conducting special education nursing evaluations/assessments for initial IEPs or 3 year reassessments. This tool includes the essential components for an LSN evaluation/assessment according to standards of nursing practice.
State Aid for Special Education funding is available for school nursing services through the Minnesota Department of Education Electronic Data Reporting System (EDRS). Salaries for essential personnel who are teachers, related services (includes school nursing), and support services staff members are reimbursable for the following services (MR3525.1310):
School health services is one area where there is a need to assure that the time being reported for reimbursement is documented with time study samples. Nursing is reimbursable if there is a statement on the IEP describing the need, services required, including frequency, location and duration. A license school nurse or a nurse licensed by the Board of Nursing (RN, LPN) may be reimbursed for direct health care services provided which is number 4 on the time study sample. Only a Licensed School Nurse who is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Education may be reimbursed for the other special education activities in the time study. Evaluations/assessments for special education requiring a Health Assessment must be provided by a Licensed School Nurse. (Memo from CFL Norena Hale, 2003). Minnesota Department of Education The time study sampling should be completed in an assignment where nursing services are provided to the general education students as well as special education students. Only those related services which enable a student to benefit from his/her special education and which are over and above the services normally provided to general education students are reimbursable. Services such as screening, first aid, student intakes, and attendance issues that are normally provided to all students cannot be claimed on the time study sampling as a special education or related service. The time is reimbursable through EDRS when the school nurse is assigned to a block of time that is exclusively a special education program, or site. The time study does not need to be done when the nurse is providing nursing services for a population that is exclusively special education. It is recommended that personnel complete four to five time study samples per year. These samples should be equally spaced throughout the year (for example: September, November, January, March, and May). The duration of the sample is for five consecutive days. The time study form allows the employee to record the time spent on various activities so as to determine the portions of the day that are reimbursable as special education or related services that are being provided by "essential personnel": as defined by MR3525.1310. Side One of the time study does not need to be completed by the School Nurse. Side one must be completed by all staff who provide direct instructional services. Please review the MDE Time Study Sampling Instructions. MDE Time Study Sampling Form (Sides 1 and 2) School Nurse Organization of Minnesota (SNOM) Guidelines For Completing the Minnesota Department of Education Time Study Sampling Form A guide was developed by SNOM in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, Division of Special Education, Funding and Data Unit, to assist Licensed School Nurses in completing the Special Education Time-Study Sampling. This guide will help the Licensed School Nurse identify those activities that qualify for state special education funding. The activities listed in this guide are not all inclusive. Individual Licensed School Nurses should contact MDE regarding activities that are not listed as to whether that activity qualifies for state special education funding. Guidelines for Licensed School Nurse Time Study Worksheet School Nurse Organization of Minnesota Time Study Worksheet for Licensed School Nurses How Do School Districts Claim Reimbursement for School Nursing Services?
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