Special Education is one of those things where everyone agrees that it's horribly broken, but people disagree radically about how to fix it.

Making it easier for parents to sue is not a cut-and-dried issue. On the one hand, it is only because of parent lawsuits that DC has done anything about special ed. On the other hand the settlement of the lawsuits consumes an extraordinary amount of resources, leaving less for the students whose families don't sue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! What is the sample letter? Changes are certainly needed.

And what is Weinfeld Special Education Group LLC and what is their interest in the legislation?

They are a law firm that specializes in helping parents who have kids whose IEPs are not being implemented/whose eligibility is being challenged/who otherwise aren't getting the services to which they are legally entitled.

So they obviously have a special financial interest in getting the bill passed.

Yes I am at a charter. In general we are pleased with the IEP process but the school has been very last minute, presenting documents and evaluations the day before the meeting or even right at the meeting. This has been stressful and I couldn't believe it was legal!

This is Catania's bill for what that is worth.

I agree the OP did not explain the issue well but in general this looks like a good bill.

Anonymous wrote:Oh, and there are some provisions for seeing documents within stricter time periods, which all seems good.

Also, I reread it, and the OAH would 'adjudicate' the due process hearings. So it seems like it is getting OSSE out of the business of running the due process hearings.

The seeing documents and notice requirements are really good because parents frequently do not get them and the way I understand it they recently changed the federal law to say that the LEA could change the content of an IEP without a parent's consent (and possibly knowledge?) so any beefing up would be good

Oh, and there are some provisions for seeing documents within stricter time periods, which all seems good.

Also, I reread it, and the OAH would 'adjudicate' the due process hearings. So it seems like it is getting OSSE out of the business of running the due process hearings.

The major issues I see are:

- Says that in any due process hearing that the LEA has the burden of proof as to the appropriateness of the proposed placement; seems like a major safeguard for students.
- Says that students/parents can be reimbursed for expert witness fees at due process hearings; that seems like a big deal for parents. Would that include fees charged by advocates? It seems like it could.

Then it says that OSSE (Office of the State Superintendant of Education) must shift responsibility for responding to due process complaints to the DC Office of Administrative Hearings. I have no idea what the effect of that would be. It could be that it's just a cost- saving measure, but I really don't know how it would change things. Anyone (attorneys?) have any idea what the practical effects would be?

IANAL, obvs.

Anonymous wrote:I believe the bill in question is here:
http://lims.dccouncil.us/_layouts/15/uploader/Download.aspx?legislationid=31379&filename=B20-0723-Introduction.pdf

Not being an expert on special-ed procedural law I can't tell if this is good or not.

I'm generally skeptical when someone asks me to advocate for an issue without explaining it.

Most of the changes would make DC special ed law more similar to Maryland's and other jurisdictions -- shorter time frames for making decisions and making schools, which generally have more resources and information, bear the burden of proof in due process claims (when parents and schools disagree on appropriate placement). As a special ed parent, I fully support the changes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! What is the sample letter? Changes are certainly needed.

And what is Weinfeld Special Education Group LLC and what is their interest in the legislation?

They are a law firm that specializes in helping parents who have kids whose IEPs are not being implemented/whose eligibility is being challenged/who otherwise aren't getting the services to which they are legally entitled.

I believe the bill in question is here:
http://lims.dccouncil.us/_layouts/15/uploader/Download.aspx?legislationid=31379&filename=B20-0723-Introduction.pdf

Not being an expert on special-ed procedural law I can't tell if this is good or not.

I'm generally skeptical when someone asks me to advocate for an issue without explaining it.

What exactly does the bill say?

Where is the bill?

Is there any news coverage on this or a link to the bill?

Anonymous wrote:Thanks! What is the sample letter? Changes are certainly needed.

And what is Weinfeld Special Education Group LLC and what is their interest in the legislation?

Thanks! What is the sample letter? Changes are certainly needed.

Just got this in my email, thought I'd share it here:


Weinfeld Education Group LLC
Oct. 6, 2014

On October 7th, the DC Council will vote on special education reform bills that, if passed, will lead to large scale positive changes in the way that families of DC students with special needs are supported, as well as in the way that their children are educated. Weinfeld Education Group supports the attached legislation and encourages you to show your support as well.

We need YOU to help ensure that the DC Council votes yes on these bills Tuesday. Please see the attached documents - an update/brief synopsis of the legislation and a sample support letter to email or mail to council members.


You can help in the following ways:

1. Attend the hearing on Oct 7, 10AM at the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 500. And encourage others, especially parents to attend as well.

2. Call and/or email Councilmembers to urge them to support the bills AND ask your parents to do the same.Lawmakers listen to parents!Feel free to use the handy template attached to this email (and See Councilmember contact info below).

3. Tweet to your stakeholders about the bills using the hashtag #fixspecialed and retweet Twitter posts from the Children's Law Center.

4. Like and share the SPED legislation post on the Children's Law Center facebook page.




Together, we can make a difference!



Thank you,

Rich Weinfeld, Executive Director
Weinfeld Education Group, LLC

Sample SPED Support Letter

DC SPED Legislative Update


District of Columbia City Council:


Phil Mendelson, Chairman

At-large

pmendelson@dccouncil.us

202.724.8032


Kenyan McDuffie, Chair Pro Tempore

Ward 5

kmcduffie@dccouncil.us

202.724.8028


Anita Bonds

At-large

abonds@dccouncil.us

202.724.8064


David Grosso

At-large

dgrosso@dccouncil.us

202.724.8105


David Catania

At-large

dcatania@dccouncil.us

202.724.7772


Vincent Orange

At-large

vorange@dccouncil.us

202.724.8174


Jim Graham

Ward 1

jgraham@dccouncil.us

202.724.8181


Jack Evans

Ward 2

jevans@dccouncil.us

202.724.8058


Mary M. Cheh

Ward 3

mcheh@dccouncil.us

202.724.8062


Muriel Bowser

Ward 4

mbowser@dccouncil.us

202.724.8052


Tommy Wells

Ward 6

twells@dccouncil.us

202.724.8072


Yvette Alexander

Ward 7

yalexander@dccouncil.us

202.724.8068


Marion Barry

Ward 8

mbarry@dccouncil.us

202.724.8045