What if my child's school is closed due to a natural disaster?

Every child has different needs and abilities, so note that the following information is very general advice. Note also that administrators, staff, and teachers who are personally affected by the disaster are trying to figure out what to do next, so you should prepare for this to take time. The main point to remember is that your child still has a right to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE).

In the short term, schools will most likely put into place their emergency plans. Under California law, schools must plan for how students with IEPs will receive instruction and services if they cannot be provided at school for more than 10 school days (see Disability Rights CA). Take a look at your child’s IEP to see what to expect. The IEP most likely says that academics and services will be provided virtually.

Virtual might be the only option in the short term for some schools. For many of our kids with disabilities and learning differences, however, this will not be FAPE for them, so plans for the long term need to be made. Some schools will be relocated to new facilities or distribute their students to other schools. Families, especially those with IEPs, should be a part of the conversation.

Here are some concerns to discuss with your case manager or the school district’s special education director:

• If you do not have access to the internet or do not have a device to use, make sure you let your case carrier know. If your child had school-issued devices that were destroyed or are unusable, please let them know so that they can make arrangements for replacements.
• If your family has been displaced and you are living in a temporary situation (even living with relatives) that is outside your school's boundaries, your child can still stay with their school of origin and receive transportation to that school until the end of the school year (or until graduation, if they are in high school), under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
• How will the school ensure that your child has as comparable a placement as possible to what’s written in their IEP? Keep in mind that placement (type of classroom) and location (actual address) are two different things.
• How will the school make up any related services and service minutes written in your child’s IEP?

If your child is a Regional Center client, we recommend that you contact your service coordinator (or the general line if your coordinator is not available) and inform them of your circumstances. Here are some questions you can ask them:

• What emergency services and supplies can the Regional Center provide your family? (This should be applicable whether you are in the Self-Determination Program or use traditional services.)
• What additional respite hours, personal assistance, or other services are available due to virtual school or another change in circumstances (such as increased time securing housing, daily living items, public assistance, etc.)?

If your child receives IHSS and the NOA shows time deductions for services performed by others during school hours, let your caseworker know that your child’s school is operating virtually, so those deductions can be reversed.

All of us here at Undivided are here to assist you in any way we can. Let us know if you need help finding resources for your children and family, and we will do our best to help.