School Nursing and Health - Special Education/ Special Needs

IDEA/Special Education

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law ensuring services to children with disabilities though out the nation.  IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities. Click HERE to be directed to IDEA Fiscal Files and Links.

• Office of Special Education website
  • ​Technical Assistance for Special Education (formerly Fast Facts)
    • Role of the School Nurse:  Students with Special Needs
  • Special Education Related Services and Departments
• IDEA Part C (birth to 2) ensures early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
  • Childfind & Preschool Resources
• IDEA Part B (ages 3-21) ensures children and youth receive special education and related services.
  • Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
  • Initial Health Assessment (DOC)
  • Planning Checklist for IHP and IEP (DOC)
  • Categories of Disability
  • Colorado IEP Forms

Exceptional Child Education Act (ECEA) is the Colorado law that ensures services to children with disabilities.

• Exceptional Student Services Unit (Topic Index)
• Parents Encouraging Parents

Outside Providers in the School Setting Joint Letter from Health Care Policy & Financing and Colorado Department of Education 2/12/24

Community Providers in a School Setting (HCPF 5/3/24)

Assistance Programs

• Medication Prescription Affordability Programs | Division of Professions and Occupations (colorado.gov)
• 211 Colorado - Expense Assistance for Children & Youth with Special Needs (exiting CDE)
• CHP+ (Child Health Plan Plus) (exiting CDE)
• Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) (exiting CDE)
• HCP is a program for children and youth with special needs (previously called the Health Care Program for Children with Special Needs) (CDPHE)

CPR Directives

• NASN National Position Statement: DNAR (Do Not Attempt to Resuscitate) (NASN)
• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Advanced Care Planning (CDPHE)
• 6 CCR 1015-2 Implementation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Directives by Emergency Medical Service Providers (Exiting CDE)

Special Dietary Needs

• CDE Special Dietary Needs Resources (including Meal Modification forms)

Diapering/Toileting

• Rules and Regulations Governing Schools in the State of Colorado (6 CCR 1010-6) - Page 16 (exiting CDE)
• Rules and Regulations Governing the Health and Sanitation of Child Care Facilities (6 CCR 1010-7) - Page 8 (exiting CDE)
• Delegation Considerations for Colorado School Nurses and Child Care Health Consultants
• Standard Precautions Course - Module 2 includes information on diapering
• Diapering Procedures Poster (CDPHE - pdf)
• Potty Training: From the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Section 504

Section 504 (exiting CDE) is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 that guarantees specific rights in federally funded programs and activities to people who qualify as disabled.

Title II (exiting CDE) covers public entities that do not receive federal funds.

Section 504 states:

"no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States...shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance...."

Section 504 is enforced by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). OCR can be contacted by calling 303-844-5695. The School District is responsible for the implementation of section 504, For more information contact the Section 504/ADA Coordinator for your District.

Under Section 504, a grievance may be filed with the School District or a complaint may be filed with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.  For more information on Section 504, use the links below to access the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

• Frequently Asked Questions about Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities (exiting CDE)
• Specific Illnesses and Medical Conditions Fact Sheets for Protecting Students with Disabilities through Section 504 and Title II (exiting CDE - U.S. DOE/OCR)
• Section 504 | US Department of Education (exiting CDE)
• Questions and Answers of Disability Discrimination under Section 504 and Title II (exiting CDE)
• Children with Disabilities in Preschool and School Aged Child Care (exiting CDE)
• The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People (exiting CDE)
• Service Animals (pdf - 2014)
• Parent and Educator Resource Guide to Section 504 in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (exiting CDE)

Students in Need or At Risk

• Education for Homeless Children and Youth (exiting CDE)
• National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (exiting CDE)
• National Center for Homeless Education (exiting CDE)
• HIV/STDS (exiting CDE)
• Colorado Department of Education: Prevention/At Risk 
• Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Youth
  • National School Boards Association (exiting CDE)
  • GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) (exiting CDE)
• High Risk Behaviors
  • Self-Injury (exiting CDE)

​Pregnant or Parenting Students

• Pregnant or Parenting Students | CDE (state.co.us)
• Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students - US Dept. of Education
• Discrimination Based on Pregnancy and Related Conditions - US Dept. of Education
• Expectant and Parenting Young Families  Youth.gov
• Colorado - Nurse-Family Partnership (nursefamilypartnership.org)