Special Education Update

The parents? voice was heard!!!

The Board of Education Withdraws Drastic
Changes to Special Education Regulations

Recently, the Board of Education proposed major changes to special education (Chapter 766) regulations. The proposed changes were extremely detrimental to special education students and their families. Some of the major changes the Board proposed included:

Eliminating the requirement that the IEP Team determine a child?s specific placement;
Removing parental consent requirements;
Permitting school districts to refuse to conduct an initial evaluation or a reevaluation; and
Removing measurable short-term objectives from the IEP.

The Board of Education held hearings and received comments from the public during the month of February. MAC and others spread the word, posting alerts and mobilizing parents and advocates. Many attended the hearings and wrote to legislators and Board members.

In March, the Board of Education withdrew the harmful regulations. It announced that the decision was made in response to all the input it heard during the public comment period.

MAC thanks all the many parents and advocates who contacted the Board of Education and legislators. Your eloquent and moving input made all the difference.

For more information about the proposed regulations and the campaign, see the attachments below:

-Final Special Ed Alert Chapter 766

-First Special Ed Alert Chapter 766

-DOE Statement

-DOE Letter to Legislators

-Globe Article

-Herald Column

Information Provided to Parents and Advocates by MAC

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