Senator Slade Gorton (R-WA) is continuing his attempts to reopen the law and is also very critical of the proposed regulations-

Once again, much of the concern is centered around discipline issues- schools want more time to conduct functional assessments and hold IEP and manifestation determination hearings. The law says there will be NO interruption in a child’s education! The groups also want to change the regulation which allows students to participate in a graduation ceremony with their peers and continue receiving special education services until age 22. This is simply a meanspirited, blatant exclusion of children from a rite of passage! The groups are also asking for a one (1) year extension to implement the IEP procedures. Schools will have had a full year to prepare for these provisions. There is no need to grant an extension! There is a move to remove the current policy note that indicates that home instruction is appropriate for only a limited number of children who are medically fragile. Why would they want this clarified? Is the intention to allow greater numbers of children to be placed at home rather than educating them in school? These folks are also questioning the need for regular educators to attend IEP meetings for their students. How can we have a successful support system in place for children if their regular education teachers aren’t members of the team?

TASH urges you to call, fax, write or email Secretary Riley, Committee Chairs, Goodling (R-PA) and Jeffords (R-VT) and your US Representative and Senators. Tell them-

NO RETREAT IS ACCEPTABLE!

NO RETREAT IS JUSTIFIED!

There have already been too many compromises made on behalf of our children and we will not tolerate any more!

The Honorable Richard Riley Secretary U.S. Department of Education Washington, D.C. 20202

Sen. Jim Jeffords vermont@jeffords.senate.gov Phone: (202) 224-5141 728 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 District Phone: (802) 223-5273

Rep. William Goodling Phone: (202) 225-5836 2263 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 District Phone: (717) 843-8887

To find out who your Representative and Senators are, and how to reach them, go to www.congress.org or call (202) 224-3121.

For more information, contact TASH at: (410) 828-8274X104 or marcie@erols.com

We may affirm absolutely that nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.