The Secretary of Education, by virtue of the office, shall be Secretary of Education for children with disabilities and shall superintend all matters relating to the essential early education and special education of children with disabilities. In addition, the Secretary, in coordination with the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, and the Department for Children and Families, shall ensure that appropriate educational services are provided to children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance in accordance with the provisions of 33 V.S.A. chapter 43 and may accept gifts, grants, or other donations to carry out the purpose of this chapter. (Amended 1987, No. 235 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1987, No. 264 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1989, No. 187 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 1995, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 22; 2011, No. 58, § 13, eff. May 31, 2011; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 197, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)