Mental Health Accommodations, Policy No. 596

Pursuant to OKLA. STAT. tit. 70, § 3-169, beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the parent or guardian of a student shall have the option to disclose to the Technology Center prior to enrollment that the student has received certain types of mental health treatment so that a meeting can be scheduled to discuss whether the student requires accommodations.

 

 

For purposes of this policy, a “mental health facility” is defined as a public or private hospital or related institution offering or providing inpatient mental health services, a public or private facility accredited as an inpatient or residential psychiatric facility by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, or a facility operated by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as appropriate for the inpatient evaluation or treatment of minors.

 

 

The following procedures apply to parent disclosures of mental health treatment and the holding of meetings to discuss accommodations that may be needed as a result of a student’s mental health condition:

 

A.  Prior to the enrollment of a student who has received inpatient or emergency outpatient services from a mental health facility in the previous twenty-four (24) months, the parent of that student shall have the option (but is not required) to disclose the student’s history of mental health treatment to the Technology Center.

 

B.  If a student’s parent/guardian makes a disclosure to the Technology Center as set forth above, the Technology Center will schedule a meeting to determine whether the student is in need of any accommodations, including, but not limited to, an individualized education program (“IEP”). The participants in this meeting shall include:

 

1.      The parent or legal guardian of the student.

 

2.      One or more designated Technology Center employees, which may include members of the student’s IEP team.

 

3.      One or more representatives of the mental health facility.

 

C. The meeting required by this policy may take place in person, via teleconference, or via videoconference.

 

D.  The meeting shall be conducted in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, including, but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”).

 

Reference:

OKLA. STAT. tit. 70, § 3-169

OKLA. STAT. tit. 43A, § 5-502