Education Law Center and VALUE Coalition Submit Comments Regarding Rules that Govern Special Education in Pennsylvania
Education Law Center and VALUE Coalition Submit Comments Regarding Rules that Govern Special Education in Pennsylvania
Dear Families and Advocates:
The State Board and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) are reviewing comments to the rules that will govern special education in Pennsylvania for many years to come. It is super important that families and advocates be heard, and heard again, on what they think will help kids with disabilities. Your voices (and numbers) count!!! Comments must be received by the State Board and the IRRC by July 30, 2007 (addresses below). In your letter be sure to reference ID#6-306 (2618) at the top.
Attached are comments from the VALUE Coalition that urge the State Board and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission to make sure that schools use positive approaches with children with challenging behaviors. We are asking your support as we seek to:
--Eliminate the provision that defines a restraint as something that lasts at least 30 seconds in a row.
--Make sure that parents are notified and have a chance to meet with school personnel whenever a restraint has been used.
--Prohibit the use of prone (face-down) restraints.
--Support the new provisions that clarify the rules on "least restrictive environment."
Also attached are comments from the Education Law Center. Those comments urge that families have free copies of their children's school records and that families and their experts have reasonable access to the current and proposed school placement of their child.
Here is the link to the proposed regulations:
http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol37/37-26/1146.html.
Please send copies of your comments (Remember: every voice counts!!!) to both people/places below:
Ms. Michaele A. Totino
Regulatory Analyst
Independent Regulatory Review Commission
333 Market Street, 14th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Fax: (717) 783-2664
Jim Buckheit
Executive Director
PA State Board of Education
333 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333