6 CAR Part 102 — Rules Governing the Implementation of the Braille and Large Print Textbook Appropriation

Chapter I

Subchapter D

Subpart 1

6 CAR § 102-101 Purpose {#sec-6-car-102-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-102--6 CAR § 102-101}

6 CAR § 102-101. Purpose.

(a) It is the purpose of this part to set forth the criteria for determining student eligibility for adaptive textbooks (i.e. braille and large print).

(b) This part defines the process for local school district access to such adaptive textbooks for students with visual impairments.

6 CAR § 102-102 Definitions {#sec-6-car-102-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-102--6 CAR § 102-102}

6 CAR § 102-102. Definitions.

For the purpose of this part:

(1) “Adaptive textbooks” means braille and large print;

(2) “Braille skills inventory” means a comprehensive assessment used to assess the braille reading and writing proficiency of students who receive braille instruction;

(3) “IDEA” means the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.;

(4) “IEP” means the individualized education program for a student with disabilities under the IDEA;

(5)(A) “Informal reading inventories (IRIs)” means commercially available IRIs which are:

(i) Adapted into braille and large print; and

(ii) Used as a part of continuing assessment to determine student progress in reading as measured by reading comprehension and reading rate;

(B) Reading rates are measured using informal reading inventories and content texts and are one (1) component of the data needed to determine efficiency in a student’s current literacy media;

(6) “Informal functional vision assessment” means teacher observations which provide evidence of a student’s use of visual ability in near and distance tasks; and

(7) “Learning media assessment” means a structured systematic assessment used to determine the appropriate literacy media and/or functional learning materials for students with visual impairments.

6 CAR § 102-103 Administration {#sec-6-car-102-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-102--6 CAR § 102-103}

6 CAR § 102-103. Administration.

The braille and large print textbook program for students with visual impairments

shall be administered by the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind in conjunction with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s designee from internal administration.

6 CAR § 102-104 Eligibility for adaptive textbooks {#sec-6-car-102-104 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-102--6 CAR § 102-104}

6 CAR § 102-104. Eligibility for adaptive textbooks.

The following criteria should be considered when determining the appropriate

reading medium for students with visual impairment:

(1) Observations made by, but not limited to:

(A) The classroom teacher;

(B) The parent;

(C) The certified teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI); and

(D) An Educational Services for the Visually Impaired (ESVI) regional vision consultant;

(2) Assessment by an ESVI regional vision consultant, certified teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI):

(A) Learning Media Assessment;

(B) Braille Skills Inventory;

(C) Informal functional vision assessment; and

(D) Reading rates;

(3) Eye specialist medical report detailing:

(A) Acuity;

(B) Pathology; and

(C) Prognosis; and

(4) Student’s IEP team recommendation.

6 CAR § 102-105 School district access to adaptive textbooks {#sec-6-car-102-105 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-102--6 CAR § 102-105}

6 CAR § 102-105. School district access to adaptive textbooks.

(a) Local school districts must assess any student whose visual impairment adversely affects his and/or her educational performance as to the student’s need for adaptive textbooks.

(b) For the purpose of this part, the criteria stated in 6 CAR § 102-104 shall be the minimum criteria for determining student eligibility.

(c) Local school districts may seek assistance for assessing a student’s need for adaptive textbooks by contacting the Educational Services for the Visually Impaired (ESVI).

(d) Following a determination that a student is eligible for adaptive textbooks, the regional vision consultant serving the local school district will approve the purchase of textbooks for each student determined eligible.

(e) The regional vision consultant will complete an ESVI textbook order form and transmit the form to the Instructional Resource Center at the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind.

6 CAR § 102-106 Costs {#sec-6-car-102-106 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-6-part-102--6 CAR § 102-106}

6 CAR § 102-106. Costs.

(a)(1) There shall be no charge to local school districts for large print or braille

textbooks unless a book is lost or is severely damaged.

(2) Should a textbook be lost or sustain such damage as to render the book unusable, the district will be billed for the costs associated with replacing the book.

(b)(1) The Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind may use funds from the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind Fund Account for costs associated with providing braille and large print textbooks as authorized under this section.

(2) If funding allows and a need is present, the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind may use funds from the Arkansas School for the Deaf and Blind Fund Account to purchase:

(A) Electronic textbooks;

(B) Adaptive technology; and

(C) Library media.

(c) The state board may negotiate directly with publishers of braille and large print textbooks for the purchase of braille and large print textbooks.