281—14.14(256) Therapeutic classroom—claims. A school district may submit claims to the department for the costs of providing therapeutic classroom services and transportation services in accordance with this rule and Iowa Code section 256.25A.
	14.14(1) Reimbursement of transportation services. If the general assembly appropriates moneys for purposes of transportation claims reimbursement in accordance with this subrule, the resident school district may submit a claim to the department for reimbursement for transportation services for a student who is transported to a therapeutic classroom operated by another school district or accredited nonpublic school and located more than 30 miles from the student’s designated school or accredited nonpublic school.
	a. 	Claims are allowable for students enrolled in the school district or in an accredited nonpublic school located in the district boundary and who do not have an assigned special education weighting.
	b. 	Such claims may be allowable when the school districts or school district and accredited nonpublic school have a shared agreement to provide the therapeutic classroom.
	c. 	Claims will be made to the department of education using an invoice supplied by the department and completed by the school district providing transportation during the school year.
	d. 	Claims include a listing of actual costs per student transported to a therapeutic classroom, including number of days transported, transportation miles, and other actual costs.
	14.14(2) Claims for reimbursement of services.
	a. 	By June 15, 2022, and annually by June 15 thereafter, districts may submit a claim for reimbursement of therapeutic classroom services for the prior school year.
	b. 	By July 1 of each year, the department will draw warrants payable to school districts for such claims.
	c. 	On June 15, 2022, and continuing each June 15 thereafter, districts providing therapeutic classrooms may submit a claim for reimbursement to the department for students served by their therapeutic classroom during the prior school year who have BIPs but no IEP weighting. Districts may submit claims for 1.5 weighting for the number of days they served the student and the number of days in the school district’s calendar.
	d. 	School districts will collect student-level data throughout the year and submit it at the end of the year using a department invoice.
	e. 	In order for the school district to submit a claim for reimbursement for students attending an accredited nonpublic school or receiving competent private instruction, the student will be counted as a shared-time student in the district in which the nonpublic school of attendance is located.
	f. 	Reimbursement will be prorated if claims exceed the amount appropriated.
	g. 	Claims must include: student served in a therapeutic classroom, confirmation the student has a BIP and does not have a weighted IEP for the period claimed, number of days served and the number of days in the school district’s calendar.
	h. 	The costs of providing transportation to nonpublic school pupils as provided in this rule will not be included in the computation of district cost under Iowa Code chapter 257 but will be shown in the budget as an expense from miscellaneous income. Any transportation reimbursements received by a school district for transporting nonpublic school pupils do not affect district cost limitations of Iowa Code chapter 257. The reimbursements provided in this rule are miscellaneous income as defined in Iowa Code section 257.2.
[ARC 7788C, IAB 4/17/24, effective 5/22/24]