Lawsuit Highlights Need to Let Parents, Not Government, Choose Disabled Education Plans

Solomon ChenIs California ’s public education system working for students with disabilities? No, and it is past time for California to implement private school choice for students with disabilities so that their families can choose the best educational path for them.A recent civil-rights lawsuit filed by the Berkeley-basedDisability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) agrees that students with disabilities (SWD) are not being fairly treated. In July, California legislators passedAB 130, allowing all public-school students to enroll in independent study, in part to accommodate desires for distance learning during COVID-19. Unfortunately, choosing to enroll in independent study is bogged down with red tape for SWDs who have individualized education programs (IEP) under the federalIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act.DREDF ’slawsuit tells the sad stories of a nine-year-old and six-year-old who have both suffered significant time delays accessing crucial independent learning as their school districts went through the bureaucratic machinations needed to finalize their IEPs. And even when that was complete, they were told that they would not receive their request to include distance learning.California ’s AB 130states,“A SWD must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that specifically provides for participation in independent study prior to participation.” If the IEP isn’t adjusted or finalized to be “specific,” students risk being caught in li...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs