UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED SPECIAL ED REGS

 

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW WITH THE PROPOSED REGS?

 

All public comments received prior to June 30th are being analyzed and compiled into a summary by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).  The current count is 38,000 comments submitted by more than 2,000 individuals.  The summary of comments will soon be made available on VDOE’s website and the electronic Town Hall.  It will also be sent to everyone who made comments during the public comment period.

 

 

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS EXPECT TO HAPPEN NEXT WITH THE REGS?

 

VDOE will present the final draft of the regulations to the Board of Education (BOE) at its September 25th meeting.  This final draft will be released to the public as an attachment to the BOE agenda approximately 5 to 7 days in advance of meeting.  The number and types of changes in the proposed regs will likely prompt another round of comments.  Parents may be asked to comment on the final draft regs as soon as they are released.  If interested in commenting be prepared to act quickly. 

 

 

WHAT PROACTIVE EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO CHANGE THE PROPOSED REGS?

 

Due to widespread public outcry, Governor Kaine, Attorney General McDonnell, and various legislators have expressed concern about the proposed regs.  Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Bill Howell has written a letter on the matter to Secretary of Education Tom Morris. (Click here for details.) 

 

Speaker Howell has indicated that legislative action may be taken if the proposed regs are not substantively changed and include revisions to all areas identified in the FCCPTA's comments.  The Speaker has also referred the matter to the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules.  Read about the Commission's duties and membership by clicking here.

 

Parent groups have requested that they be involved in the redraft of the proposed regulations.  There is precedent for this request since it was done during the revision of the regulations in 1991 and 2000.  The request is being brought to the attention of the BOE but no plans have been made to include parent input at this stage.

 

 

WHAT POSSIBLE ACTIONS CAN PARENTS TAKE PRIOR TO THE SEPTEMBER 25th BOE MEETING?

• Contact BOE members who represent parents in Fairfax County (Isis Castro, Eleanor Saslaw, and Dr. Bob Jones) to advocate for greater parent participation in redrafting the regs.  Click here for their email information.

•    Contact state delegates and senators.  Your legislators can be located by going to this website.  Utilize Speaker Howell’s letter as a sample of what should be conveyed to the BOE, Governor Kaine and Secretary of Education Morris.

• Contact members of the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules concerning the impact of proposed changes on students and their parents.  Members of the Commission can be located going to this website.

• Contact Attorney General Bob McDonnell (candidate for Governor) by clicking here.

• Contact Delegate Brian Moran (candidate for Governor)

Phone: (703) 370-2890
Fax: (703)370-4011
Email: DelBMoran@house.state.va.us

• Contact Fairfax County School Board members to explain the impact the proposed changes:  SchoolBoardMembers@fcps.edu.  Request members comment individually during next round of the process.

• Write letters to the editor.

For additional information on the proposed regulations, checkout the following special education site for parents maintained by Wrightslaw.