U.S. Department of Education Sponsors Forums to Prepare for IDEA
Reauthorization
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) will sponsor seven regional forums to
provide an
opportunity for educators, parents, students,administrators, policymakers
and community members to voice concerns and questions about the
reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
IDEA has served to strengthen the academic expectations and accountability
of the nation's 5.4 million children with disabilities. Recent changes to
IDEA mandate that states gather data to ensure that school districts are
not mistakenly identifying children with disabilities who are minority or
limited English proficient (LEP) and
placing them in separate educational settings.Further, the IDEA has
supported provisions calling for culturally relevant instruction for
diverse learners in mainstreamed environments, thereby ensuring that the
needs of LEP children with special needs are adequately identified and
remedied.
The forums will provide parents the opportunities to address:
identification procedures for LEP students in need of services, the quality
of services provided to students and families, and culturally relevant
services for LEP students.
These forums will be free and will also accommodate participants with
stipends for the cost of childcare. Additionally, interpreters will be
available. Following is a list of the scheduled forums, dates, locations
and contact information:
Salt Lake City, Utah: October 10th
John Copenhaver (435) 752-0238
Mobile, Alabama: October 16th & 19th
Betty Beale (334) 244-3100
Minneapolis, Minnesota: October 23rd
Carol Daniels (614) 447-0844
Providence, Rhode Island: November 5th
Kristin Reedy (802) 951-8226
Reno, Nevada: November 15th
Caroline Moore (541) 346-5641
Washington, DC: December 6th
Michele Rovins (202) 884-8210
San Antonio, Texas: December 19th
Betty Beale (334) 244-3100
Joy Wallace (joywallace@home.com)
equity@nici-mc2.org
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