State Advisory Council for Special Education; members; duties; expenses

(1) There is created a State Advisory Council for Special Education, consisting of members appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Members shall be representative of the geographic areas of this state. (2) Members must include: (a) Individuals with disabilities; (b) Parents or guardians of children with disabilities ages birth through 26; (c) Teachers; (d) State and local education officials, including officials who carry out activities under part B of subchapter VI of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.; (e) Administrators of programs for children with disabilities; (f) Representatives of institutions of higher education that prepare personnel to work in special education and related services; (g) Representatives of other state agencies involved in the financing or delivery of related services; (h) Representatives of private schools and representatives of public charter schools as defined in ORS 338.005; (i) At least one representative of a vocational, community or business organization concerned with the provision of transition services to children with disabilities; (j) A representative from the Department of Human Services responsible for foster care; (k) Representatives from the Oregon Youth Authority and Department of Corrections; and (L) Other persons associated with or interested in the education of children with disabilities. (3) A majority of the members shall be individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities ages birth through 26. (4) The State Advisory Council for Special Education shall: (a) Review aspects of the statewide program of education of children with disabilities and advise the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Education on such programs; (b) Advise the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Education of unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities; (c) Comment publicly on any rules proposed for adoption by the Department of Education concerning special education; (d) Assist the state in developing and reporting data and evaluations concerning special education; (e) Advise the Department of Education in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports on special education; and (f) Advise the Department of Education in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities. (5) Out of the funds appropriated to the Department of Education, the department shall reimburse members for necessary travel and other expenses under ORS 292.495 (2).