May 31 2008
Proposed Changes to the VA Special Education Regulations
The Virginia Department of Education and State Board of Education have proposed new special education regulations.
The Virginia Governor has expressed his concern over the way in which these regulations limit parental rights. The proposed regulations eliminate the need for parental consent prior to ending special education services or changing programs. The regulations reduce the number of times a year parents need to receive special ed progress reports and no longer require parents to be part of the functional behavioral assessment team.
Many parents are concerned about these changes. Many school employees argue that these changes allow them to focus more on providing efficient services to students who qualify for special education.
Special education, ultimately, is not about school district employees or parents. It is about the students. So, what is your take on the situation? Do the proposed regulation changes described above help or harm Virginia’s special education students?
