Authority: Title 2.2, Chapter 26, Code of Virginia.
A. The Office of Children's Services may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Social Services for the provision of routine administrative support services.
B.1. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year from the general fund is provided for the Office of Children's Services to contract for the continuation of a study on the current rates paid by localities to special education private day programs licensed by the Virginia Department of Education. Any remaining balance in the appropriation for the rate study that remains unexpended on June 30, 2021, shall be reappropriated in the next fiscal year for this purpose. Any provider of special education private day services receiving public funds for services provided through the Children's Services Act program shall cooperate with this study and make available to the Office of Children's Services all necessary information, as determined by the director, Office of Children's Services, or his designee, required to determine the adequacy of rates paid for such services and to develop recommendations for a rate-setting structure. The study shall consider the financial impact on local school districts, local governments, and private educational services providers.
2. The Office of Children's Services shall take steps to protect from disclosure any provider-specific information designated by the provider to be confidential or a trade secret. Any information so designated shall be exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. (§ 2.2-3700). This provision does not prevent the use of such data in any aggregated manner for purposes of managing, analyzing, or planning programs funded in this Act.
3. The Office of Children's Services shall submit preliminary findings on the continuation of the study on rates for private day special education services to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission no later than Sept. 1, 2020 for review and incorporation into their 2020 study on the Children’s Services Act. The Office of Children's Services shall provide a final report on the study's findings to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and Appropriations and House Appropriations Committees by June 1, 2021.
4. In addition, the study shall, at a minimum: (i) provide definitions and clear delineation between all staff and positions used by private day schools and assessed in the study; (ii) define which staff positions can be included in the classroom staff ratio assessment; (iii) assess all costs associated with regulatory licensing; and (iv) require providers to report costs and distinguish between different locations.
5. The Office of Children's Services shall implement statewide rates for private day special education services based on the study in this paragraph, effective on July 1, 2021.