Education Department Takes in Views on Proposed IDEA Regulations

Washington

Parents of children with disabilities and representatives of disability-rights advocacy groups said at a recent public hearing that they were worried the proposed regulations for the Individuals with Disabilties Education Act would tip the balance of power toward school districts.

School administrators and other educators generally spoke in favor of maintaining flexibility for states within the regulations. The July 12 hearing was the last, and largest, of seven meetings the Department of Education has held around the country this summer to gather input on the proposed IDEA rules.

Several educators at the session at Gallaudet University here asked the department to provide more information on a method of identifying children with specific learning disabilities, called “response to intervention,” that is promoted within the proposed rules. Several said that effectiveness of the method was unproven for all but reading instruction for young students, and that many teachers don’t know...