Paperwork-Reduction Pilots Off to Slow Start

2004 IDEA authorized efforts to reduce burden on special education teachers.

Heralded as a chance to relieve the paperwork burden for special education teachers, two federal pilot programs are getting tepid reviews over the proposed rules for carrying them out.

The 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act allowed the tests of what were billed as ways to reduce such teachers’ workloads. The first, a paperwork-reduction pilot, would allow 15 states to propose ways they would cut down on the administrative tasks placed on teachers and schools.

The second pilot, also available to 15 states, would allow schools to give students with disabilities individualized education programs good for up to three years, with their parents’ approval. The IDEA mandates yearly IEP reviews. The theory is that less-frequent full IEP reviews would translate into improved long-term planning and less paperwork...