NLDline
Subj: THE SPECIAL ED ADVOCATE,
JANUARY 23, 2000 (V. 2, NO. 2)
Date: 1/23/00 7:55:34 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: webmaster@wrightslaw.com (Wrightslaw/Special Ed Advocate)
Sender: owner-special-ed-advocate@wrightslaw.com
To: special-ed-advocate@wrightslaw.com
THE SPECIAL ED ADVOCATE, JANUARY 23, 2000 (V. 2. NO. 2)
IDEA COMPLIANCE REPORT: “DISABLED KIDS OFTEN SEGREGATED, GET ‘SUBSTANDARD
SCHOOLING’”
In the October 11, 1999 issue of The Special Ed Advocate, we asked:
DID YOUR STATE PASS THE IDEA COMPLIANCE TEST?
http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/nwltr/1999/nl_99_1011.html
We explained that your state Department of Education has many responsibilities under IDEA.
The state Department of Education is responsible for supervising local school districts.
Your state education department should have a comprehensive system of personnel
development that is designed to ensure that there is an adequate supply of properly
trained teachers.
Your state should have policies and procedures that ensure that all children with
disabilities receive a free appropriate education.
Your state is responsible for implementing a comprehensive Child Find Program where all
children with disabilities (including children who attend private schools) are identified,
located and
evaluated.
On November 23, 1999, we reported that the IDEA Compliance Report had been delayed.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/1999/IDEA_Compliance_Report_Delayed_991123.html
The IDEA Compliance Report is scheduled for release on January 25, 2000.
AP NEWS: "STATES IGNORE SPECIAL ED LAW"
On January 23, at 6:30 p.m., the Associated Press published "STUDY: STATES IGNORE
SPECIAL ED LAW." The article by AP Writer Karen Gullo is based on an advance copy of
the IDEA Compliance
Report obtained by the Associated Press.
According to "STATES IGNORE SPECIAL ED LAW:"
"Many children with disabilities are getting substandard schooling because states are
not complying with federal rules on special education . . ."
"In too many cases, children with disabilities are taught in separate classrooms and
schools are not following other regulations meant to protect these students from
discrimination."
Because the U. S. Department of Education hasn’t required states to comply with the
law, "parents often must sue to enforce the law . . ."
The National Council on Disability found that: "Nearly 6 million American children
receive special education instruction and services at a cost of almost $40 billion, about
$5.7 billion of which is federal money."
"Federal efforts to enforce the law over several administrations have been
inconsistent, ineffective and lacking any real teeth . . ."
MOST STATES FAIL
After examining compliance reports from 1994 to 1998, the National Council on Disability
concluded that: * “36 states failed to ensure that children with disabilities are not
segregated from regular classrooms.”
* “44 states failed to follow rules requiring schools to help students find jobs or
continue their education.”
* “45 states failed to ensure that local school
authorities adhered to nondiscrimination laws.”
The Council concluded that special education will not fulfill its mission until states are
required to comply with the law.
The Associated Press reports, "The council made dozens of recommendations to
strengthen federal enforcement. They include giving the Justice Department independent
authority to investigate cases and take states to court; providing more money for
enforcement and handling of complaints; and creating a process for handling complaints at
the federal level."
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For an easy-to-read, printer- friendly copy of this article, go to --
http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/2000/IDEA_Compliance_Rpt_00_0123.htm
Get Wrightslaw News at --
http://www.wrightslaw.com/mainpage_what_new.htm
Read the full AP article at the Washington Post web site --
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20000123/aponline182948_000.htm
==================
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Pete and Pam Wright
c/o The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043
Phone: 804-257-0857
Website: http://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com
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Copyright 2000, Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright. All rights reserved.
END