December 1, 2006

Study Finds Most States Fail to Communicate Parent Rights

Although IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) requires schools to tell parents about their rights under the law (referred to as “procedural safeguards notice”) in “understandable language,” most are falling short of this requirement, says a study reported in the research journal Exceptional Children. The study, conducted at Pennsylvania State University by Julie Fitzgerald and Marley Watkins, examined Procedural Safeguards Notices (also called Parents’ Rights Notices) from 49 states and the District of Columbia. (Ohio was already rewriting its Parents’ Rights Notice, so it was not included in the study).

The study gives examples of failures to comply with the Act, aimed at giving parents more rights and information regarding the education of their special needs children.

Procedural Safeguards Notice Study by the Advocacy Institute.

Filed under: Cerebral Palsy News

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