Information Bulletin #2 - IDEA Child Find changes HR 2732 - SB1562 10-28-2003
Did you know that: Under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), 34 C.F.R. §300.505, parents already do have the right to refuse consent for evaluations and the right to refuse placement of a child. There is no need for any change in IDEA to protect homeschoolers.
Until now, IDEA has been interpreted as applying only to children enrolled in public and private schools. It was the official position of the federal government that public school officials were not required to provide special education to children who are homeschooled. If a particular school was attempting to force parents to have a homeschooled child evaluated, quite possibly it was because the homeschool in that particular state was considered a "private school" under state law. The answer to a problem such as this is not to add more to a federal law, but to amend the state law to eliminate the necessity of considering a homeschool as a "private school" in the first place. Reduction of government regulation is far superior to an increased amount of regulation, even if it is meant to "clarify" other regulations.
A school district can bring the issue before a due process hearing officer. Anytime an issue is brought before an administrative officer or a judicial officer, the possibility exists for an interpretation of the law that works against the interest of a homeschooling parent. People should be made aware that in fact it is the right of parents to refuse evaluations, and that even homeschooling parents have that right. A parent is a parent, whether the parent homeschools or not.
Here is what the
current law says:
The original portion of Section 614(a)(1) of the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1414(a)(1) reads -
Sec. 1414. Evaluations, eligibility determinations,
individualized education programs, and educational placements
(a) Evaluations and reevaluations
(1) Initial evaluations
(A) In general
(B) Procedures
Such initial evaluation shall consist of procedures--
(i) to determine whether a child is a child with a disability (as defined in
section 1401(3) of this title); and
(ii) to determine the educational needs of such child.
(C) Parental consent
(i) In general
The agency proposing to conduct an initial evaluation to determine if the child
qualifies as a child with a disability as defined in section 1401(3)(A) or
1401(3)(B) of this title shall obtain an
informed consent from the parent of such child before the evaluation is
conducted. Parental consent for
evaluation shall not be construed as consent for placement for receipt of
special education and related services.
(ii) Refusal
If the parents of such child refuse consent for the evaluation, the agency may
continue to pursue an evaluation by utilizing the mediation and due process
procedures under section 1415 of this title, except to the extent inconsistent
with State law relating to parental consent.
(2) Reevaluations
A local educational agency shall ensure that a reevaluation of each child with
a disability is conducted--
(A) if conditions warrant a reevaluation or if the child's parent or teacher
requests a reevaluation, but at least once every 3 years; and
(B) in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
So: with regard to federal
legislation that is being considered (HR2732/SB1562) the revision to IDEA is
totally unnecessary!
For information on the definition of disability under IDEA and eligibility
criteria for early intervention in your state, contact your state's Part C
coordinator at http://www.nectac.org/contact/Ptccoord.asp
Attorney
Deborah Stevenson - Executive Director of National Home Education Legal
Defense. – www.nheld.com or email : info@nheld.com
Judy Aron -
Director of Research, NHELD – imjfaron@sbcglobal.net