Upcoming state legislative action
Mass. Advocates for Children has sent along the following information about upcoming events regarding pending state laws concerning special educations services.
The Joint Education Committee will conduct a special education hearing on October 16, at 1:00 p.m in room A1, where testimony will be presented on special education bills that have been filed this session.
Parents are invited to come and testify if you would like to speak in support of any of the bills that have been filed. We have summarized below some of the major bills supported by Massachusetts Advocates for Children. (For a complete listing of bills call the Joint Education Committee at 617-722-2070, complete list of bills will be posted on MA General Court website on Oct. 15)
We understand how committed parents of children with disabilities are to their children’s education. However, we also realize how difficult it can be for parents of school-age children to come and testify at Beacon Hill at 1:00 p.m and be home in time for your children.
If you are unable to attend the Oct 16th hearing, you can submit written testimony, and you can call the members of the Education Committee. We have provided the phone numbers and e-mails of the Education Committee members below.
Phone calls and letters are extremely effective!
See below for more.
Some of Major Special Education Bills Supported by Massachusetts Advocates for Children
- S. 286 An Act to Maintain Transition Age Requirements for Students with Disabilities
This bill would maintain the requirement to initiate special education transition planning and transition services at age 14, rather than waiting to age 16 as now permitted under federal law. Transition services are critical to facilitate a student’s movement to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, and community participation. Delay beyond age 14 (waiting until the middle of high school) is too late to facilitate the most effective transition planning for youth with disabilities. (Sen. Augustus lead sponsor)
- H. 391 An Act to Provide Access to Information for Parents’ Evaluators
This bill would amend the state’s special education law to ensure that parents and independent evaluators are provided access to observe the student’s current or proposed special education programs. Although state regulations currently provide parents the right to observe the school district’s proposed program, school districts often place unreasonable obstacles in the way of parents’ and their expert consultants’ observations. Parents are entitled to full participation in the process of developing an IEP, but, without access to observe their child’s school programs, they cannot obtain the information they need to fully and effectively participate with school personnel in the consideration and development of appropriate IEPs for their child. This bill will help to avoid litigation, encourage settlement, and requires no appropriation. (Rep. Balser lead sponsor)
- H. 547 An Act Relative to Special Education Due Process Costs
This bill addresses the impact of a Rehnquist decision by the US Supreme Court (Buckhannon, 2001) which has effectively created a two-tier system, barring many low and middle-income families from accessing special education rights and services. This bill would reinstate parents’ rights to recover attorneys’ fees for settlements obtained as a result of litigation, as previously available prior to 2001. This is critical to encourage prompt resolution and settlement of disputes, reduce litigation costs for families and school districts, reduce the lengthy delays which harm children deprived of essential services for months and sometimes years, and help ensure that children of all income levels receive equal educational opportunities. (Rep. Sannicandro lead sponsor)
- S.278 Act to Improve Teacher Training in Augmentative and Alternative Communication-
This bill will help to ensure that teachers receive training in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods necessary to educate children with disabilities who are nonverbal or who have limited speech. Thousands of children (including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, and acquired brain injury), rely on AAC methods to interact with others, and many students are now being included in regular education. The bill directs the Board of Education to revise regulations for educator licensure so that all teachers are adequately prepared in methods of communication other than speech to facilitate interaction, to ensure that students with such disabilities can access the general education curriculum and to facilitate inclusion. (Sen. Antonioni lead sponsor)
- S.311 An Act to Maintain Short Term Objectives for Students with Disabilities
This bill would require school districts to continue the current practice of including and maintaining short term objectives in the IEPs of students with disabilities. A recent change in Federal law removed the requirement for short term objectives, and this bill would ensure that the state practice will continue by codification in State law. The inclusion of short term objectives in IEPs is important to maintain accountability and assist in measuring the student’s progress. (Sen. Creem lead sponsor)
- S.280 An Act Relative to Special Education and Parent Advisory Councils
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish and administer, subject to appropriation, a grant program to provide financial support to parent advisory councils to support their duties. (Sen. Antonioni lead sponsor)
Joint Education Members –with Contact Information
Sen. Robert Antonioni- Chair - Robert.Antonioni@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1230
Rep. Patricia Haddad- Chair - Rep.PatriciaHaddad@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2070
Sen. Edward Augustus - Vice-Chair - Edward.Augustus@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1485
Rep. Geraldine Creedon - Vice-Chair - Rep.GeraldineCreedon@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2070
Sen. Pamela Resor - Pamela.Resor@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1120
Sen. Karen Spilka - Karen.E.Spilka@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1640
Sen. Dianne Wilkerson - Dianne.Wilkerson@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1673
Sen. Scott Brown - Scott.P.Brown@state.ma.us Telephone: (617) 722-1555
Rep. Douglas Petersen - Rep.DouglasPetersen@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2637
Rep. Stephen LeDuc - Rep.StephenLeDuc@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2230
Rep. Alice Wolf - Rep.AliceWolf@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2400
Rep. Alice Peisch - Rep.AlicePeisch@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2080
Rep. Marty Walz - Rep.MartyWalz@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: 617-722-2460
Rep. Robert Rice - Rep.RobertRice@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: 617-722-2060
Rep. Rosemary Sandlin - Rep.RosemarySandlin@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: (617) 722-2400
Rep. Jeffrey Perry - Rep.JeffreyPerry@hou.state.ma.us Telephone: 617-722-2396
Rep. Richard Ross - Rep.RichardRoss@Hou.State.MA.US Telephone: 617-722-2305
