Fwd: URGENT: Save IDEA Discipline Protections for Kids

[Guest guest]

<<< 10 MINUTES TO SAVE IDEA DISCIPLINE PROTECTIONS FOR KIDS

Congress is negotiating the final IDEA conference bill. Parents,

family, friends, and advocates need to tell Congress how important it

is to keep the discipline provisions in the IDEA strong. It will take

only 10 minutes of activism on your part to help preserve these

important rights for kids. What's 10 minutes? Please distribute this

email widely and repost!!!!

Please send a fax to Congress that includes the points below. If

you've already done one last week or last month, do another. Edit as

you see fit; add a line or two if you wish.

*FAX* your letter to ALL FIVE Congressional aides listed below. (You

do *not* need to be a constituent; please send your fax to all five.)

Fax *THIS WEEK* – TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! GET FRIENDS & FAMILY TO SEND

FAXES!! We are looking for quantity here! Do *not* use email; it just

gets deleted. Please do not call; we don't want to clog their phones

when they are working so hard. If you don't have access to a fax, we

can find a way for someone else to fax for you. The fax numbers are:

Sen. Judd Gregg:

Fax to Attention Ms. Denzel McGuire

fax: 202-228-4222 or 202-228-5044

Sen. Kennedy:

Fax to Attention Ms. Connie Garner

fax: 202-224-5128

Rep. Boehner:

Fax to Attention Mr. Cleary

fax: 202-226-1010

Rep. :

Fax to Attention Ms. Alice Cain

fax: 202-225-3277

Rep. Castle:

Fax to Attention Mr. Ritling

fax: 202-225-2291

-- Jess

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

Dear Senator Gregg, Senator Kennedy, Representative Boehner,

Representative , and Members of the Conference Committee,

I am concerned that the House and Senate IDEA bills do not adequately

protect the discipline protections for children with disabilities.

The House bill's discipline provisions are draconian, removing

fundamental protections that prevent arbitrary removal of children

from the classroom. The Senate bill is better, but it still does not

prevent unnecessary exclusion of children.

Keep the manifestation determination in any IDEA bill. Kids with

disabilities need to stay in their classrooms, and learn with their

peers. Under the House bill, children could be removed for any

conduct violation–no matter how minor, even if it was a manifestation

of the disability, and even if the child doesn't understand what he

did wrong. Kids with diabetes could be removed for eating in class,

kids with autism for being unable to sit still. The Senate bill keeps

the manifestation review, but weakens it unacceptably. For example,

the manifestation team would no longer consider the child's IEP and

placement. If the problem is with the IEP and/or placement, it can be

easily fixed with proper supports, instead of removing the child

entirely. The Senate also lets school districts do the review after

disciplining the child. This means the school could made the wrong

decisions, and the child would still be removed until the review

occurs.

It is also important that Congress keep and strengthen the

requirements for Positive Behavioral Intervention Plans in the IDEA.

Individual, classroom, and school-wide Positive Behavior Supports are

evidence-based practices and highly effective in keeping schools safe

and students learning in all grades. Requiring school professionals

to develop Positive Behavior Intervention Plans, based on Functional

Assessments of Behavior, is vital to the " specially designed

instruction " so desperately needed by students with often-

misunderstood disabilities. The expertise required to perform these

procedures already exists. Congress needs to require Positive

Behavior Support training for general education and special education

personnel. The Senate and House need to strengthen the requirements

for implementing Positive Behavior Support practices in all states,

at all levels. This will reduce discipline problems dramatically, and

decrease suspensions, expulsions, " push outs " and dropouts.

The House and Senate bills must be made stronger to protect the

discipline rights of children with disabilities.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Signature >>>

--- End forwarded message ---

[Guest guest]

<<< 10 MINUTES TO SAVE IDEA DISCIPLINE PROTECTIONS FOR KIDS

Congress is negotiating the final IDEA conference bill. Parents,

family, friends, and advocates need to tell Congress how important it

is to keep the discipline provisions in the IDEA strong. It will take

only 10 minutes of activism on your part to help preserve these

important rights for kids. What's 10 minutes? Please distribute this

email widely and repost!!!!

Please send a fax to Congress that includes the points below. If

you've already done one last week or last month, do another. Edit as

you see fit; add a line or two if you wish.

*FAX* your letter to ALL FIVE Congressional aides listed below. (You

do *not* need to be a constituent; please send your fax to all five.)

Fax *THIS WEEK* - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! GET FRIENDS & FAMILY TO SEND

FAXES!! We are looking for quantity here! Do *not* use email; it just

gets deleted. Please do not call; we don't want to clog their phones

when they are working so hard. If you don't have access to a fax, we

can find a way for someone else to fax for you. The fax numbers are:

Sen. Judd Gregg:

Fax to Attention Ms. Denzel McGuire

fax: 202-228-4222 or 202-228-5044

Sen. Kennedy:

Fax to Attention Ms. Connie Garner

fax: 202-224-5128

Rep. Boehner:

Fax to Attention Mr. Cleary

fax: 202-226-1010

Rep. :

Fax to Attention Ms. Alice Cain

fax: 202-225-3277

Rep. Castle:

Fax to Attention Mr. Ritling

fax: 202-225-2291

-- Jess

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

Dear Senator Gregg, Senator Kennedy, Representative Boehner,

Representative , and Members of the Conference Committee,

I am concerned that the House and Senate IDEA bills do not adequately

protect the discipline protections for children with disabilities.

The House bill's discipline provisions are draconian, removing

fundamental protections that prevent arbitrary removal of children

from the classroom. The Senate bill is better, but it still does not

prevent unnecessary exclusion of children.

Keep the manifestation determination in any IDEA bill. Kids with

disabilities need to stay in their classrooms, and learn with their

peers. Under the House bill, children could be removed for any

conduct violation-no matter how minor, even if it was a manifestation

of the disability, and even if the child doesn't understand what he

did wrong. Kids with diabetes could be removed for eating in class,

kids with autism for being unable to sit still. The Senate bill keeps

the manifestation review, but weakens it unacceptably. For example,

the manifestation team would no longer consider the child's IEP and

placement. If the problem is with the IEP and/or placement, it can be

easily fixed with proper supports, instead of removing the child

entirely. The Senate also lets school districts do the review after

disciplining the child. This means the school could made the wrong

decisions, and the child would still be removed until the review

occurs.

It is also important that Congress keep and strengthen the

requirements for Positive Behavioral Intervention Plans in the IDEA.

Individual, classroom, and school-wide Positive Behavior Supports are

evidence-based practices and highly effective in keeping schools safe

and students learning in all grades. Requiring school professionals

to develop Positive Behavior Intervention Plans, based on Functional

Assessments of Behavior, is vital to the " specially designed

instruction " so desperately needed by students with often-

misunderstood disabilities. The expertise required to perform these

procedures already exists. Congress needs to require Positive

Behavior Support training for general education and special education

personnel. The Senate and House need to strengthen the requirements

for implementing Positive Behavior Support practices in all states,

at all levels. This will reduce discipline problems dramatically, and

decrease suspensions, expulsions, " push outs " and dropouts.

The House and Senate bills must be made stronger to protect the

discipline rights of children with disabilities.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Signature >>>

--- End forwarded message ---

________________________________

Ooops....Wrong Planet! Syndrome

Autism Spectrum Resources

www.PlanetAutism.com

jypsy@...

[Guest guest]

<<< 10 MINUTES TO SAVE IDEA DISCIPLINE PROTECTIONS FOR KIDS

Congress is negotiating the final IDEA conference bill. Parents,

family, friends, and advocates need to tell Congress how important it

is to keep the discipline provisions in the IDEA strong. It will take

only 10 minutes of activism on your part to help preserve these

important rights for kids. What's 10 minutes? Please distribute this

email widely and repost!!!!

Please send a fax to Congress that includes the points below. If

you've already done one last week or last month, do another. Edit as

you see fit; add a line or two if you wish.

*FAX* your letter to ALL FIVE Congressional aides listed below. (You

do *not* need to be a constituent; please send your fax to all five.)

Fax *THIS WEEK* - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! GET FRIENDS & FAMILY TO SEND

FAXES!! We are looking for quantity here! Do *not* use email; it just

gets deleted. Please do not call; we don't want to clog their phones

when they are working so hard. If you don't have access to a fax, we

can find a way for someone else to fax for you. The fax numbers are:

Sen. Judd Gregg:

Fax to Attention Ms. Denzel McGuire

fax: 202-228-4222 or 202-228-5044

Sen. Kennedy:

Fax to Attention Ms. Connie Garner

fax: 202-224-5128

Rep. Boehner:

Fax to Attention Mr. Cleary

fax: 202-226-1010

Rep. :

Fax to Attention Ms. Alice Cain

fax: 202-225-3277

Rep. Castle:

Fax to Attention Mr. Ritling

fax: 202-225-2291

-- Jess

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

Dear Senator Gregg, Senator Kennedy, Representative Boehner,

Representative , and Members of the Conference Committee,

I am concerned that the House and Senate IDEA bills do not adequately

protect the discipline protections for children with disabilities.

The House bill's discipline provisions are draconian, removing

fundamental protections that prevent arbitrary removal of children

from the classroom. The Senate bill is better, but it still does not

prevent unnecessary exclusion of children.

Keep the manifestation determination in any IDEA bill. Kids with

disabilities need to stay in their classrooms, and learn with their

peers. Under the House bill, children could be removed for any

conduct violation-no matter how minor, even if it was a manifestation

of the disability, and even if the child doesn't understand what he

did wrong. Kids with diabetes could be removed for eating in class,

kids with autism for being unable to sit still. The Senate bill keeps

the manifestation review, but weakens it unacceptably. For example,

the manifestation team would no longer consider the child's IEP and

placement. If the problem is with the IEP and/or placement, it can be

easily fixed with proper supports, instead of removing the child

entirely. The Senate also lets school districts do the review after

disciplining the child. This means the school could made the wrong

decisions, and the child would still be removed until the review

occurs.

It is also important that Congress keep and strengthen the

requirements for Positive Behavioral Intervention Plans in the IDEA.

Individual, classroom, and school-wide Positive Behavior Supports are

evidence-based practices and highly effective in keeping schools safe

and students learning in all grades. Requiring school professionals

to develop Positive Behavior Intervention Plans, based on Functional

Assessments of Behavior, is vital to the " specially designed

instruction " so desperately needed by students with often-

misunderstood disabilities. The expertise required to perform these

procedures already exists. Congress needs to require Positive

Behavior Support training for general education and special education

personnel. The Senate and House need to strengthen the requirements

for implementing Positive Behavior Support practices in all states,

at all levels. This will reduce discipline problems dramatically, and

decrease suspensions, expulsions, " push outs " and dropouts.

The House and Senate bills must be made stronger to protect the

discipline rights of children with disabilities.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Signature >>>

--- End forwarded message ---

________________________________

Ooops....Wrong Planet! Syndrome

Autism Spectrum Resources

www.PlanetAutism.com

jypsy@...

[Guest guest]

<<< 10 MINUTES TO SAVE IDEA DISCIPLINE PROTECTIONS FOR

KIDS

Congress is negotiating the final IDEA conference bill. Parents,

family, friends, and advocates need to tell Congress how important

it

is to keep the discipline provisions in the IDEA strong. It will

take

only 10 minutes of activism on your part to help preserve these

important rights for kids. What's 10 minutes? Please distribute this

email widely and repost!!!!

Please send a fax to Congress that includes the points below. If

you've already done one last week or last month, do another. Edit as

you see fit; add a line or two if you wish.

*FAX* your letter to ALL FIVE Congressional aides listed below. (You

do *not* need to be a constituent; please send your fax to all

five.)

Fax *THIS WEEK* - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! GET FRIENDS & FAMILY TO

SEND

FAXES!! We are looking for quantity here! Do *not* use email; it

just

gets deleted. Please do not call; we don't want to clog their phones

when they are working so hard. If you don't have access to a fax, we

can find a way for someone else to fax for you. The fax numbers

are:

Sen. Judd Gregg:

Fax to Attention Ms. Denzel McGuire

fax: 202-228-4222 or 202-228-5044

Sen. Kennedy:

Fax to Attention Ms. Connie Garner

fax: 202-224-5128

Rep. Boehner:

Fax to Attention Mr. Cleary

fax: 202-226-1010

Rep. :

Fax to Attention Ms. Alice Cain

fax: 202-225-3277

Rep. Castle:

Fax to Attention Mr. Ritling

fax: 202-225-2291

-- Jess

----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------

Dear Senator Gregg, Senator Kennedy, Representative Boehner,

Representative , and Members of the Conference Committee,

I am concerned that the House and Senate IDEA bills do not

adequately

protect the discipline protections for children with disabilities.

The House bill's discipline provisions are draconian, removing

fundamental protections that prevent arbitrary removal of children

from the classroom. The Senate bill is better, but it still does not

prevent unnecessary exclusion of children.

Keep the manifestation determination in any IDEA bill. Kids with

disabilities need to stay in their classrooms, and learn with their

peers. Under the House bill, children could be removed for any

conduct violation-no matter how minor, even if it was a

manifestation

of the disability, and even if the child doesn't understand what he

did wrong. Kids with diabetes could be removed for eating in class,

kids with autism for being unable to sit still. The Senate bill

keeps

the manifestation review, but weakens it unacceptably. For example,

the manifestation team would no longer consider the child's IEP and

placement. If the problem is with the IEP and/or placement, it can

be

easily fixed with proper supports, instead of removing the child

entirely. The Senate also lets school districts do the review after

disciplining the child. This means the school could made the wrong

decisions, and the child would still be removed until the review

occurs.

It is also important that Congress keep and strengthen the

requirements for Positive Behavioral Intervention Plans in the IDEA.

Individual, classroom, and school-wide Positive Behavior Supports

are

evidence-based practices and highly effective in keeping schools

safe

and students learning in all grades. Requiring school professionals

to develop Positive Behavior Intervention Plans, based on Functional

Assessments of Behavior, is vital to the " specially designed

instruction " so desperately needed by students with often-

misunderstood disabilities. The expertise required to perform these

procedures already exists. Congress needs to require Positive

Behavior Support training for general education and special

education

personnel. The Senate and House need to strengthen the requirements

for implementing Positive Behavior Support practices in all states,

at all levels. This will reduce discipline problems dramatically,

and

decrease suspensions, expulsions, " push outs " and

dropouts.

The House and Senate bills must be made stronger to protect the

discipline rights of children with disabilities.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

Signature >>>

--- End forwarded message ---

________________________________

Ooops....Wrong Planet! Syndrome

Autism Spectrum Resources

www.PlanetAutism.com

jypsy@...