I believe the current regulations have ensured the rights of children with disabilities and their parents and do not require the wholesale revision that is being proposed in order to comply with the 2004 amendments to IDEA.  Many of these proposed regulations roll back the important civil rights of families in Virginia.

 

First, I would like to support in their entirety the comments submitted by various groups representing students with disabilities.  In particular, I would like to endorse every comment made by the  Virginia Coalition for Students with Disabilities in its May 2008 comments on the special education regulations.  I would also endorse all the points made by the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy, The Virginia Coalition on Students with Disabilities, The Fairfax County Council of PTAs, The Arc of Northern Virginia, and The Arc of Virginia.

 

I am also delighted that the Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) Board passed a resolution opposing termination of parental consent at its June 23, 2008 Board Meeting and I support ACPS's opposition of the termination of parental rights with regard to special education.  I would like to publically thank the ACPS School Board, and in particular Arthur Peabody, Sheryl Gorsuch and Ronnie Campbell for standing up for these important rights.  I would also like to thank Delegate David Englin for his willingness to stand up for such rights in the House of Delegates at a time when this was not in the forefront of public attention.