Illinois Regulations at a Critical Stage on January 9, 2007

The following is an announcement from my collegue Sandy Alperstein:
                                 
As background, the JCAR (Joint Committee on Administrative Rules) will meet on January 9, 2007 to review ISBE's proposed special ed rules (Part 226).  If they choose, they can require ISBE to make changes, or they can approve these proposed rules.  Problems with these proposals include the format (confusing to parents), the elimination of caseload and class size limits, and the mandate for RTI without support, guidance or resources for general educators to apply RTI correctly (and incorrect application could result in children not receiving needed services). click here for the email for JCAR.

Sandy has provided a suggested form email to send to JCAR addressing issues with the proposed regulations:

To the honorable members of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules,

I am the parent of a child who receives special education services in Illinois and am writing to express my serious concerns regarding ISBE's proposed rules for special education, Part 226.

I have read through the proposed rules and find them to be very confusing because of all the references to federal law.  I realize the intent was to shorten the rules; however, this format makes it very hard for parents to understand the new rules.

Also, I (along with many families and teachers) have serious concerns about eliminating the caseload and class size protections currently in place in Illinois.  I fear that the result will be, at least in many schools, larger class sizes and caseloads, driving even more special education professionals out of the field.  I also fear that this will result in children not receiving the services they need and to which they are legally entitled.

Finally, I am concerned about the mandate for schools to use RTI (response to intervention).  While the goals of RTI sound good, I am worried that schools are not being given the support and resources they need for general educators to be able to properly implement RTI.  Improper implementation will result in children not receiving the education to which they are entitled, and could spell disaster for Illinois children.

Please consider these issues when deciding whether to ask ISBE to revise its proposed rules. Thank you very much.

[name, address, phone & email info]

Comments

[John Wills Lloyd, Ph.D.]

Mr. Fox, thanks for publishing Ms. Alperstein's suggested letter. She makes some important points in it. It would be sad if Illinois, one of the areas where many disabilities issues first were raised, becomes a governmental entity that systematically denies services to students with disabilities and their families.