As a concerned voter, active Virginia citizen, and a thirty-year
teacher of special needs students, I urge the committee to reject the
proposed regulations regarding special education in Virginia's
schools. 
  These regulations would restrict parental rights to have a say in
their child's IEP process and accommodations, lessen standards that
would
require an appropriate education for their children in the event of a
discipline referral, and allow for conflicts of interest in any
hearings
involving their children, among other harmful consequences. 
  In particular, these dangerous recommendations would:
   
   Take away parental rights to give consent in their child's IEP
process  
   Restrict parental involvement in ensuring accommodations if their
child transfers to another school  
   Remove parental input from the Functional Behavioral Assessment team
   Allow a Local Education Agency to deny parental requests for an IEP
meeting if they think the request is unreasonable  
   Lengthen the time, without parental consent, that a school has to
postpone addressing their children's specific accommodations  
   Not require impartial due process hearings  
   Reduce the number of IEP progress reports given to parents on the
status of their 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 and teachers across Virginia, Governor
Kaine, and other Virginia Children and Adults with special needs in
voicing my opposition to these proposed special education regulations. 
  Thank you for taking the time to hear and acknowledge my concerns.
  Sincerely,
  Christy L. Garcia, MA, BSSED, LPN
  Homebound Instructor for Botetourt County Schools
  5022 Jonathan Lane
  Roanoke, Virginia 24019