In case you missed it, below is a notice from ODE seeking input on what it should propose for revisions to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This should not be confused with the ongoing meetings being hosted by State Support Teams seeking input on the state operating standards. The call below is regarding possible changes to the federal law, while the ongoing meetings are regarding state regulations that flesh out the existing federal law. Reauthorization by the current Congress seems unlikely, so this may be all for naught:
Public input opportunity for IDEA reauthorization open through March 14
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and the State Board of Education (SBE) invite your input and feedback in the development of a federal platform for the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
The purpose of the platform is to provide Ohio-based recommendations for federal lawmakers and policy officials to consider when they begin to review and rewrite the federal law and regulations impacting educational opportunities and services for students with disabilities.
The federal IDEA law was last reauthorized in 2004 and, while unlikely, it may be reauthorized during the 130th Congressional session. To ensure Ohio’s issues and concerns are at the forefront of any federal legislative review, the SBE plans to develop and advocate on a set of recommendations for the reauthorization of IDEA in 2013.
We would appreciate your recommendations and suggestions of what should be covered in the next reauthorization. Feel free to be general or specific (detail sections) as well as provide any contact or organizational information in your responses. Please send recommendations and suggestions to ideaplatform@education.ohio.gov by Thursday, March 14, 2013.