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Take action against proposal to exclude teachers from IEP meetings May 31, 2006.
NYSUT, in collaboration with other statewide parental advocacy groups, is opposing a move by the New York State Education Department to adopt a provision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that allows a parent and a school district to agree on excluding members from Committee on Special Education meetings. NYSUT believes the provision is unnecessary, since the federal government has not adopted final IDEA regulations clarifying that states must make conforming changes to state laws. The provision is part of SED's legislative proposal, which would also allow changes to be made to a student's Individualized Education Program, after the annual review, without holding a CSE meeting. In a May 19 letter to State Ed officials and Regents, NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira said exclusion of some CSE members "represents a diminution of New York state's longstanding higher standards" for committee participation. "Teachers, school psychologists and other service providers who know the students and the curriculum are vital to the collaborative planning" that occurs at the meetings, she noted. The proposal would also reduce standards for triennial evaluations, which could be waived by agreement of a parent and district before the child's teachers and school psychologist begin to consider whether they have adequate information to plan for the child's future. NYSUT encourages members to contact SED about the proposed legislation, which is detailed at www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/idea/home.html. You may also submit a petition against the proposal at the Web site of the United Federation of Teachers: http://www.uft.org/r/6195/1083302. State Ed is accepting written comments on the proposal until June 16. Direct them to Rebecca Cort, deputy commissioner, VESID, Room 1606, One Commerce Plaza, Albany, N.Y. 12234 or fax to her at (518) 474-8802. Resources
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