§16-39-2. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the following respective interpretations:

(1) EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN. Persons between the ages of six and 21 years who have been certified under regulations of the State Board of Education by a specialist as being unsuited for enrollment in regular classes of the public schools or who are unable to be educated or trained adequately in the regular programs including, but not limited to: the mildly and moderately to severely retarded, and also the profoundly retarded; the speech impaired; the hearing impaired, deaf, and partially hearing; the blind and vision impaired; the crippled and those having other physical handicaps not otherwise specifically mentioned herein; the emotionally conflicted; those with special learning disabilities; the multiple handicapped; and the intellectually gifted.

(2) HEREIN, HEREBY, HEREUNDER, HEREOF. Refer to this chapter as an entirety and not solely to the particular section or portion thereof in which any such word is used.

(3) PLACEMENT COMMITTEE. A committee designated and appointed by the superintendent for determining the eligibility of exceptional children for placement in special school programs or classes. The committee shall be composed of representatives from the fields of medicine, education, and psychology whenever practicable. The committee, after study of all data available on each exceptional child, shall make recommendations concerning each child's admission to a school program or class or withdrawal from a school program or class.

(4) RETARDED. Having subaverage general intellectual functioning which:

a. Either originates during the developmental period or results from brain damage caused by disease or physical injury occurring subsequent to the developmental period; and

b. Is associated with impairment in adaptive behavior.

(5) SCHOOL BOARD. A county, municipal, or other board of education in the State of Alabama and the school district associated therewith.

(6) SPECIALIST. A physician, psychologist, psychometrist, or other professional personnel qualified pursuant to regulations established by the State Board of Education to examine children for the purpose of determining whether they are exceptional children.

(7) SPECIAL SERVICES. Services relating to instruction of exceptional children (but not including the instruction itself) including, but not limited to: administrative services; transportation; diagnostic and evaluation services; social services; physical and occupational therapy; job placement; orientation and mobility training; braillist services and materials; typists and readers for the blind; special materials and equipment; and such other similar personnel, services, materials, and equipment as may from time to time be approved by regulations adopted hereunder by the State Board of Education.

(8) SUPERINTENDENT. The superintendent of a school board.

The definitions set forth in this section shall be deemed applicable whether the words defined are used in the singular or plural.

(Acts 1971, No. 106, p. 373, §§1, 2; Acts 1976, No. 688, p. 950, §1; Acts 1993, No. 93-758, p. 1512, §1.)