Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 20, 1993 TAG: 9305200328
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURA WILLIAMSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Allyson Hart's long, skinny pigtails wiggled as she squirmed in her wheelchair Wednesday night, her father's voice booming from behind the lectern beside her.
"As a parent, I expect to be notified and included as much as possible [in Allyson's education]," the Salem lawyer testified at a public hearing on changes to the state's special-education regulations.
"As a parent and a lawyer, I will be included," Ross Hart told state Board of Education President James Jones.
Jones listened.
To Hart, and to more than 50 other parents and advocates for special-education students who spoke at the hastily arranged hearing at Hidden Valley Junior High School, Jones listened.
He took notes. He nodded his head.
And after more than 2 1/2 hours of testimony, he agreed.
"You all have impressed me tremendously tonight," he told what remained of a crowd that was at one point more than 100 strong. "We simply can't proceed with these regulations without more parent involvement."
Jones, who agreed to a special meeting with Southwest Virginia parents because many were unaware of an April 28 public hearing in Abingdon, said he would recommend to his fellow board members next week that they scrap the changes proposed for special education regulations and start anew.
Parents told Jones they objected to the regulations because:
They would no longer require parental consent before changing a special-education student's evaluation, placement or services.
They would no longer require that specialists who work with the students, such as occupational therapists, be licensed or certified.
They would no longer require school administrators to respond to parents' complaints in writing.
Parents fear schools would use the regulations to exclude them from regular involvement in their children's education.
Jones said some changes to the regulations would need to be approved to comply with federal law. He said he would recommend making those changes - such as replacing the word "handicapped" with "disabled" - and others that were noncontroversial.
Parents said they agreed with some changes, such as one that would make children with attention-deficit disorders eligible for special education.
But they remained suspicious of most, which the state Department of Education said were made because educators complained that Virginia's laws were more cumbersome than minimum federal requirements.
That argument didn't go far with parents.
"I don't want the minimum," said Diane Walker, who has two children enrolled in Roanoke's special-education program. "I want the maximum."
Walker and others discounted promises from Jones and local educators that even if the laws changed, schools would continue to involve parents in decisions about how to educate their children.
"You've given assurances about parental involvement," she said. "I don't want assurances. I want it done."
Others said they wanted it in writing.
Some parents seemed amazed that the state would even consider making changes they believe could thwart their children's ability to learn.
"My son has survived 40 operations at the age of 8," said Mary Deel of Blue Ridge, her severely disabled son shaking his hands and his head beside her as she spoke.
"I do not want to have to see him survive the school system," she said.
Parents complained that allowing people who weren't properly trained to test their children could result in faulty evaluations and improper placements. They questioned whether the state was simply trying to save money, and wondered why educators weren't pressing for more parental involvement instead of less.
State Sen. Jack Reasor, D-Bluefield, asked the same question.
"I wish all parents of all school-age children were as interested and involved," he said.
Reasor said he knew little about the issue but sympathized with parents who feared being left out of their children's education.
Wednesday's meeting brought to six the number of hearings scheduled for comment on the regulation changes. The state initially scheduled four, but few parents learned of the hearings in time to attend. Those who found out too late lobbied for a second chance to voice their opinions, resulting in two additional hearings in Richmond and Fairfax earlier this month.
The state Department of Education will accept public comment on the changes until Friday.
by CNB