The MN department of Children, Families & Learning (CFL) is rewriting rules and regulations which, if approved, will authorize the CFL commissioner to further relax enforcement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Toward that end the CFL is using a streamlined Rule-making process that does not require a full public hearing. 100 letters opposing the CFL's "Proposed Expedited Permanent Rules Relating To Variances" will force a full public hearing. These letters must reach the CFL by July 24, so try to send one ASAP, preferably by July 17 or 18. [Sample letter below].
How is this a Minneapolis issue? The administration of the Minneapolis Public Schools is hot-wired into the MN Dept.of Children, Families, & Learning. The executive director of special services is former CFL commissioner Robert Wedl. MPS is the state's largest school district. The MPS board has complained about the high cost of special education services and is likely to be one of the first school districts to apply for a variance. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF I.D.E.A? [From Statute] IDEA '97 Final Regulations 34 CFR Part 300, Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities (Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Subpart A-General Purposes, Applicability, and Regulations That Apply to This Program �300.1 Purposes. The purposes of this part are- (a) To ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for employment and independent living; (b) To ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected; (c) To assist States, localities, educational service agencies, and Federal agencies to provide for the education of all children with disabilities; and (d) To assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilities. (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1400 note) Source: http://www.ideapractices.org/law/regulations/regs/SubpartA.php ***Opposition to IDEA enforcement from school boards****. Chris Sonenblum president of the Directors organization "MASE", Minnesota Association of Special Educators published an article in the Minnesota School Board Association Magazine in Jan./Feb. issue. The title of the article was "Whose IDEA was it anyway? And can we still afford it ? That should give you an idea of where school administrators stand on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or the IDEA. ***************************************** SAMPLE LETTER Kristin Asche, Division of Accountability and Compliance Department of Children, Families, & Learning 1500 Highway 36 West, Roseville, MN 55113 Re: Department of Children, Families and Learning Proposed Expedited Permanent Rules Relating To Variances 3500.0400 Variance We disagree with CFL proposed expedited permanent State Special Education Rules relating to variances for the following reasons: 1. If a school district requests a variance under the proposed new rules, and the CFL commissioner approves it, citizens who oppose the decision of the commissioner have no recourse except to submit written arguments against it to...the CFL commissioner. This is like having a fox guard the chicken coop. This appeal process is also unfair because the commissioner can easily change the rationale for a decision in response to arguments against it. 2.CFL will require no public input and no public process for the renewal of an approved variance through the school district's school board, Special Education Advisory Committee or site based councils. With compulsory education, public input and oversight is vital. 3. CFL has set no time limits on the provisions which authorize the CFL commissioner to approve requests for rule variances, and does not require the commissioner to set time limits on the variances granted. There is also no trigger that a citizen/entity can use to override a rule variance after it has been approved by CFL. Name Street, City, State, Zip Code Telephone number Signature Date Signed Note: Emails don't count, but you might want to clog up Kristen Asche's inbox with them anyway. Kristen Asche is the CFL contact person. e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Doug Mann, Kingfield, the new 8th ward Candidate for Mpls School Board http://educationright.tripod.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
