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?
One Response to “Proposed Changes to the VA Special Education Regulations”
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I’m curious how Virginia’s proposed changes fit in line with IDEA. As a parent of children utilizing special education services, the proposal to not require parental consent to end or change special education services is a red flag to me. I understand that some parents may not want to end special education services if their child has tested out but I still feel that parents are an important part of the IEP team and should be consulted prior to any changes are implemented.