| The Federal Law “IDEA’97” is in the process of being reauthorized. The changes have already been approved by Congress, and is now in the hands of the Senate. The proposed changes will affect children with disabilities in various ways. The following are some of the ways in which it will affect them:
1 Short Term objectives are being eliminated from IEP’s - this connects with specially designed instruction and measurable annual goals. Evidence based research states that the quality of annual goals and objectives are based on individual programs and services that lead to positive consequences for children with disabilities.
It makes three year IEP’s optional - the reason for annual IEP’s is to ensure that the child is progressing towards the goals and objectives and it holds schools accountable for educating the children. School districts can make parents believe that three year IEP’s are the norm. The annual IEP allows
1 parents and the schools to assure that children are progressing.
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It debilities the discipline provisions for children with disabilities - children with disabilities will be treated like their “regular” education peers, for schools can suspend a special education child for up to 10 days and there are no provisions to protect children whose behavior is part of their disability. Under the current “IDEA’97” in order to punish a child with disabilities they must do a behavior manifestation to determine if the behavior is part of their disability - this is being eliminated
- It allows scarce IDEA funding (up to 15%) to be used for students who have not been determined in need special education or to have a disability. This funding is scarce as is, and is needed for children who have been identified and are in need of special education services.
- It allows the each state governor decide the amount that attorney’s should be paid, even though the parent wins at a due process hearing. If parents can’t afford to pay the remainder of the attorney fees, they won’t be
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able to have a attorney represent them, but school districts have their own attorneys that represent them!
These are only a few of the proposed changes of “IDEA”. For more information or to ensure that your voice is heard you can log on to the following websites:
http://www.idea.practices.org/
www.nationalparentcenters.org
www.pacer.org
www.ndfs.org
GET INVOLVED, IT’S YOUR RIGHT, IT‘S YOUR CHILDREN‘S RIGHTS!
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