Dear Members of the Special Education Regulations Revision Process:

As a concerned voter, active Virginia citizen,a special educator and parent of a former student with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity-Disorder,Emotional and Behavioral Concerns as well as Reading Difficulties, I urge the committee to reject the proposed regulations regarding special education in Virginia's schools. 

These regulations would restrict my rights as a parent to have a say in my child's IEP process and AD/HD accommodations, lessen standards that would require an appropriate education for my child in the event of a discipline referral, and allow for conflicts of interest in any hearings involving my child, among other harmful consequences. 

In particular, these dangerous recommendations would:

1. Take away my right to give consent in my child's IEP process
2. Restrict my involvement in ensuring accommodations if my child transfers to another school
3. Remove my input from the Functional Behavioral Assessment team
4. Allow a Local Education Agency to deny my request for an IEP meeting if they think the request is unreasonable
5. Lengthen the time, without my consent, that a school has to postpone addressing my child's specific accommodations
6. Not require impartial due process hearings
7. Reduce the number of IEP progress reports given to me on the status of my child's education
   Though these regulations were proposed in an attempt to bring Virginia in line with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), they do the exact opposite of what IDEA intends.  These proposals place students with AD/HD and other disabilities in danger of not receiving a fair, appropriate, and public education guaranteed to them under federal law.

I join concerned parents across Virginia, Governor Kaine, and other Virginia Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity-Disorder (CHADD) members in voicing my opposition to these proposed special education regulations. 

Thank you for taking the time to hear and acknowledge my concerns.

Sincerely,

Susan F. Fischer