AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

Letters of Endorsement of HR 1350

AASA letter to House of Representatives in Support of the Passage of HR 1350, the Reauthorization of IDEA

Dated: (4/29/03)

From: Bruce Hunter, Associate Executive Director

Link: http://www.aasa.org/government_relations/idea/HR_1350_ltr_4-29-03.htm

AASA pleased with:

paperwork reduction measures
proposed discipline policy
only necessary personnel will attend IEP meetings
funding for pre-referral service (non IEP eligible students)

AASA wants:

IDEA regulations aligned with the law so there is no room for interpretation
attorney fees cap

AASA thanks Norwood for crafting the discipline portion of HR 1350. Saying that the current system is " unwieldy, bound by massive paperwork, difficulty in administering, and sometimes resulted in punishing non-disabled students much more harshly than students with disabilities."

AASA states that they do want mandatory funding. "For years, local school districts have been forced to pit their special education students against their general education students, by stealing from their general education budgets to cover the shortfall in their special education budgets."

AASA Letter to the House Education and Workforce Committee on the Markup of HR 1350, the Reauthorization of IDEA (to Chairman Boehner)

Dated:(4/7/03)

From: Bruce Hunter, Associate Executive Director

Link to letter: http://www.aasa.org/government_relations/idea/4-7-03_Boehner_ltr.htm

AASA pleased with:

parents need to write specific complaints
one year statute of limitations
proposed discipline policy

AASA dissatisfied with:

funding
dissatisfied with due process procedures because not forcing parents to work with schools enough - feels HR 1350's proposed timeline is too short. Wants to drag out due process and make it lengthier. Feels 15 days is too short notice to reconvene an IEP meetings prior to due process hearing.