1. The following terms, wherever they appear in these regulations, shall have the meanings specified next to each, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Ministry: Ministry of Education.

• Minister: Minister of Education.

• Regulations: The regulations governing private special education schools and programs.

• Special Education: A set of programs, plans, and strategies specifically designed to meet the special needs of children and students with disabilities, including supportive services, teaching methods, and special tools and equipment, in addition to supportive services.

• Special Education School: A private school that provides educational and instructional services for any of the categories of special education.

• Special Education Programs attached to schools: A program prepared and offered in any of the private general education schools for any of the categories of special education.

• Categories of Special Education: Children who suffer from any of the following issues:

  • Learning difficulties, behavioral and emotional disorders, visual impairment, hearing impairment, communication disorders, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, multiple disabilities.

• Private Education Administration: The administration or department of private education according to its organizational level.

2. References in these regulations to the singular include references to the plural and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise.

References in these regulations to the masculine include references to the feminine.

1. The establishment of a special education school, the transfer of its ownership, or the change of its location or educational stage is not permitted except after obtaining a written license issued by a decision from the authorized person at the Ministry in accordance with the procedures and conditions stipulated in the Regulation for Organizing Private Schools. Furthermore, the activity of the school may not be suspended or closed, even temporarily, without obtaining the Ministry's approval.

2. None of the private general education schools may offer special education programs without obtaining written approval from the Ministry in accordance with the procedures and conditions stipulated in the Regulation for Organizing Private Schools. Additionally, the program may not be suspended - even temporarily - without obtaining the Ministry's approval.

Without prejudice to the conditions and requirements stated in the Regulation for Organizing Private Schools, the following conditions must be met to open a Private Special Education School:

• 1. The license applicant must be specialized in the field of special education, or commit to appointing a qualified specialized supervisor approved by the supervising authority, and the regulations must be applied sufficiently before the commencement of the activity.

• 2. The building designated for the school must be educationally approved by a specialized committee from the Private Education, Special Education, and Kindergarten Buildings sectors, in case the activity is in this field, to ensure the suitability of the spatial requirements and equipment and their compliance with specialized specifications and standards, while ensuring the availability of safety requirements that consider the nature of the students in the school.

• 3. The license applicant must specify the categories of special education for which they wish to provide educational services, as well as the educational stage, and in case of a desire to add other categories in the future, they must submit a request for approval from the Ministry. The license applicant for the Private Special Education School may be granted all educational stages similar to those of government stages.

• 4. The license applicant must commit to providing specialized staff, including teachers and support service specialists, ensuring that their qualifications and specialties align with the types of disabilities for which the schools provide educational services, as stipulated in the regulatory rules for special education institutes and programs.

• 5. The license applicant must commit to providing the spatial requirements, equipment, and special educational tools before the commencement of the activity in accordance with what is stipulated in the regulatory rules for special education institutes and programs.

• 6. The license applicant must commit to providing measurement testing devices compatible with the Saudi environment.

1. Without prejudice to the conditions (6, 5, 4, 3, 2) stated in Article Three of these regulations, the following conditions must be met to offer special education programs in any of the private general education schools (except for the learning difficulties program):

• A. The school must have been in operation for two academic years.

• B. The school must be classified in the first or second grade for the last two academic years according to the annual classification.

• C. The school must not have committed any regulatory violations during the year preceding the license application.

2. Private general education schools have the right to apply for more than one special education program, provided that all requirements for the education and teaching of students with special educational needs are met, in accordance with the controls specified in these regulations, on the condition that the number of students in the programs does not exceed 20% of the total number of students in the school.

To obtain a license for a private special education school, or to provide special education programs in any of the private general education schools, the following procedures must be followed:

• 1. Submit the claim to the Private Education Administration in the Education Department of the area or governorate of the school.

• 2. Fill in the required information according to the controls and regulations set by the supervising authority.

• 3. The Education Department will send the claim to the General Administration for Private and Foreign Education to complete the issuance of the license for the schools and the approval of the appurtenant programs from the authorized person.

Private special education schools, as well as private general education schools that offer special education programs, must adhere to the application of specialized government curricula. In the event of a desire to implement additional curricula or to choose an alternative curriculum, prior written approval must be obtained from the relevant authority in the Ministry.

Private special education schools must adhere to the following:

• 1- The conditions and regulations for admission stated in the organizational rules for special education institutes and programs issued in Ministerial Circular No. 27/10674 dated 5/4/1422 H, along with any amendments that may occur.

• 2- Establish a permanent specialized team for assessment to determine the necessity of the student's continued enrollment in the school or program, or their integration into general education.

No special schools are designated for children with learning difficulties, nor for those who suffer from behavioral disorders (such as hyperactivity and attention deficit). They are included with their regular peers in special education programs attached to private general education schools, unless they have other accompanying disabilities.

Schools and private programs may, after obtaining the Ministry's approval, collaborate with specialized and licensed centers to supervise the diagnosis and preparation of treatment plans for children and students with special educational and learning needs, and to provide supportive services.