COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT

BETWEEN JEFFERSON PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM

AND

THE JEFFERSON COMMUNITY ACTION HEAD START PROGRAM

This cooperative endeavor agreement is made and entered into on this first day of ______by and between the Jefferson Parish Public School System, after this referred to as JPPSS, and the Parish of Jefferson, Jefferson Community Action Head Start Program, after this collectively referred to as Jeff CAP.

Whereas, the Jefferson Parish Council, by Resolution No. ______adopted the______day of ______, authorized the Council Chairman or Vice-Chairman to enter this interagency agreement to provide special educational services to children residing in Jefferson Parish and enrolled in the Jefferson Community Action Head Start Program through this interagency agreement with the Jefferson Parish School System; and

Whereas, the Jefferson Parish School Board, by Resolution adopted on the ______day of -______, authorize the Board’s President and the Superintendent to enter this interagency agreement to provide special educational services for children residing in Jefferson Parish and enrolled in the Jefferson Community Action Head Start Program through this interagency agreement with the Jefferson Community Action Head Start Program; and

Whereas, each party hereto in consideration of the premises and in further consideration of the mutual covenants, terms, conditions, and agreements contained herein, does now agree as follows:

  1. PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE:
  1. Whereas, the JPPSS and Jeff CAP acknowledge that all children with disabilities should be provided appropriate services so that those children can develop to their maximum potential; and
  1. Whereas, the JPPSS and Jeff CAP recognize that children with disabilities achieve maximum, long term effectiveness and efficiency when educational interventions are started as early as possible in the child’s developmental period; and
  1. Whereas, children with suspected disabilities residing in Jefferson Parish will benefit from the combined efforts of the Jefferson Parish Public School System (hereinafter JPPSS) and Jeff Cap’s Head Start Program to implement assessment and educational interventions for those children as early as possible in each child’s developmental period; and
  1. Whereas, it is the purpose of this agreement to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the JPPSS and Jeff CAP in the referral, evaluation, transition and delivery of services to eligible children;
  1. The JPPSS and Jeff CAP do now agree to establish and enact the following procedures for the referral, evaluation, transition and delivery of services to eligible children in Jefferson Parish, consistent with Bulletin 1706, Louisiana’s Law for Exceptional Children, after this called Bulletin 1706, and the Pupil Appraisal Handbook.

II. IDENTIFICATION AND REFERRAL

  1. Jeff CAP, through its Head Start Program, will refer three, four, and five year old children with suspected disability to the JPPSS by giving the JPPSS information regarding the child’s medical, physical, cognitive,sensorial, and/or but not limited to social disabilities. Such information will include, but not limited to vision, hearing, and speech screening.
  1. Jeff CAP, through its Head Start Program, will secure and send the JPPSS a signed parental consent form authorizing referral of the child to the JPPSS for screening and/or evaluation.
  1. Jeff CAP, through its Head Start Program, will secure and give the JPPSS a signed parental consent form authorizing the JPPSS to release results of said evaluation and/or screening to Jeff CAP. Provided, however, that a parent(s) refusal to consent to the release of such information by the JPPSS to Jeff CAP shall in no way preclude an otherwise eligible child from screening and/or evaluation services by the JPPSS for which the parents have provided written consent.
  1. Jeff CAP will provide JPPSS personnel the use of designated Head Start facilities to conduct the screening and/or evaluations contemplated under this agreement.
  1. Jeff CAP will provide transportation to the designated Head Start site to parents and children scheduled for screening and/or evaluation by the JPPSS.
  1. TheJPPSS will review referral data from Head Start and determine the need for screening and/or evaluation. The data will provide the Child Search team with a description about the suspected impairment (physical, cognitive, social, sensorial, and medical).

III.EVALUATION

  1. JPPSS will notify the Head Start Disability Coordinator of the date and time scheduled for a screening or an evaluation contemplated under this agreement.
  1. The JPPSS will conduct a multi-disciplinary evaluation according to the requirements of the Pupil Appraisal Handbook on all referred children suspected of having a disability according to Bulletin 1706 and the Pupil Appraisal Handbook.
  1. Upon completion of the evaluation, a copy will be sent to the Head Start Program if the JPPSS has received a signed parental consent form authorizing the JPPSS to release results of said evaluation and/or screening to Jeff CAP. Provided however, that the parent(s) refusal to consent to the release of such information by the JPPSS to Jeff CAP shall in no way preclude an otherwise eligible child from screening and/or evaluation services by the JPPSS for which the parents have provided written consent.

IV. PLACEMENT AND SERVICES

A.For those students determined eligible for special education services and Head Start services, JPPSS personnel will convene an Individualized Education Program Meeting for the purpose of developing an Individualized Education Program (hereinafter) for the child. When applicable, Head Start personnel will participate in the IEP meeting.

  1. The IEP team will explore various service delivery models, including but not limited to Head Start sites for the delivery of services. Provided however, that services provided by JPPSS personnel may be delivered at either JPPSS sites and/or at Head Start placement sites, when JPPSS staff is available.
  1. JPPSS and Head Start will share information, instructional strategies, and progress reports to provide the child with the most appropriate educational experiences to meet his/her special needs.
  1. JPPSS will notify the Head Start Disability Coordinator of the IEP conference. Jeff CAP, through its Head Start Program, will remind parents of the meeting.
  1. JPPSS is responsible for ensuring that all services required on the IEP are provided. JPPSS is not solely responsible for providing such services. JPPSS, Head Start, or a Community Agency as appropriate may provide the required services.
  1. JPPSS will provide a preschool teacher according to the provisions in Bulletin 1706. Head Start will provide accommodations for the JPPSS preschool teacher at the Head Start site.
  1. Jeff CAP will provide the number of children receiving services under IEP’s to the LEA for the LEA Child Count report by December 1 annually.

V.TRANSITIONING

  1. JPPSS will provide through the Preschool Specialist, a parent in-service about the policies and procedures of the JPPSS.
  1. JPPSS will arrange on-site visits to JPPSS sites for parents and students entering the Special Education Preschool Program. The Preschool Specialist and the assigned preschool teacher will coordinate these visits.
  1. JPPSS will conduct review IEP conferences for placement in Special Education Preschool/Kindergarten Programs.

IV.TRAINING / INSERVICE

  1. JPPSS and Head Start will coordinate workshops and training sessions for appropriate personnel.
  1. JPPSS and Head Start will arrange, when appropriate, teacher observation at appropriate sites.

VII.TRANSMITTAL OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

  1. Information accumulated in the operation of this agreement is privileged and shall not be divulged without written consent of the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) as required by Bulletin 1706, and the Pupil Appraisal Handbook, and other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
  1. The JPPSS and Head Start will keep a record of parties obtaining access to records according to the provisions for federal and state laws and regulations.
  1. The JPPSS and Head Start will protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information at collection, storage, disclosure, and destruction stages.

VIII.RELEASE, INDEMNITY & HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

  1. The Jefferson Parish School Board does hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless the Parish of Jefferson, Jefferson Parish Community Action Head Start Program, and their insurers, and also their respective employees, agents and representatives from any and all liability for injury or damage, of whatever nature and kind, arising from the negligence and/or fault of employees of the Jefferson Parish Public School System, while said employees are engaged in the programs or services contemplated under this agreement on the premises of designated Jefferson Parish Community Head Start Program sites.
  1. The Parish of Jefferson, Jefferson Community Head Start Program does hereby release, indemnify and hold harmless the Jefferson Parish Public School Board and its insurers, and also their respective employees, agents and representatives from any and all liability for injury or damage, of whatever nature and kind, arising from defects on or in the premises, other hazardous conditions present on or in the premises, and/or the negligence and/or fault of the Parish of Jefferson, Jefferson Community Head Start Program, their employees, agents, representatives, and/or invitee.

IX.ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGREEMENT

  1. Effective , the parties hereto authorize the following persons and the staff under their supervision to carry out the provisions of this agreement: Executive Director, Jefferson Community Action Program; Jefferson Community Head Start Administrator; Special Education Department, Jefferson Parish Public School System; ExecutiveDirector, Division of Instruction, Jefferson Parish Public School System; and Superintendent, Jefferson Parish Public School System.
  1. The Head Start Disability Coordinator and JPPSS Coordinator of Special Programs (PK-4)/ Early Childhood Programs are the designated liaisons to facilitate communication between the two agencies.
  1. All parties upon request will make an annual review of the agreement. Any alterations, variations, modifications, or waivers of provisions of this agreement will be valid only when they have been reduced in writing, duly signed and attached to the original of this agreement. Either party may initiate the modification process upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party. Provided however that in the event Congressional, legislative and/or judicial action to prohibit the expenditure of federal and/or state funds for services within the contemplation of this agreement for either program, this agreement will become null and void, and may be terminated at any time by either party giving not less than thirty (30) days written notice to the other party specifying the date of termination.
  1. The agreement will be effective immediately upon joint signature for a period of time not

exceeding two years, specifically from______to______.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on this ______day of______.

Signatures

For the JeffersonParishPublic School System

______Mark Jacobs, School Board President Date

______

Dr. James Meza, Jr., ED.D. Acting Superintendent Date

JeffersonParishPublic School System

For Jefferson Parish Community Action Program Head Start

______

Jedidiah Bernell Jackson, Executive Director Date

Jefferson Community Action Programs (JEFFCAP)