Subject:  Missouri First Steps Parental Rights Statement

Source:  CJ Hubbard, Assistant Director, Part C Compliance 

Intended Audience:  SPOEs, Service Coordinators  

Date:  August 1, 2007 

The Missouri First Steps Parental Rights Statement has been available in English and Spanish, and is now available in Japanese.  Part C regulations implementing IDEA require that the parental rights statement accompanying the Notices of Action be given to parents in their native language.  Native language is defined in IDEA as: “…the language normally used by the parents….”  Native language is not necessarily the parent’s language of choice or the parent’s first language.  If the parent normally uses English, then a foreign language translation of the document is not required.  Once service coordinators have determined the parent’s native language, they should provide the parental rights statement in that language. 

If there are other translations for which you have a need, please contact Shelley Witherbee, Funds Management Supervisor, at (573) 522-2523.

Click on http://dese.mo.gov/divspeced/PDF/PRJapanese.pdf to view and download this form.