NH 2006 Legislative Session

HB1532 was referred to Interim Study on March 7, 2006

 

From the March 7, 2006 NH House Journal No. 23:

HB 1532, revising the special education statutes.  REFER FOR INTERIM STUDY

Rep. Clifford A. Newton for Education:  This bill, while well intended, was originally brought forward as a housekeeping bill.  It was soon realized that there were additional concerns with the bill and an amendment was then offered.  The amendment, while clarifying some concerns of the committee, brought up even more concerns.  The bill was then referred to interim study so that the appropriate time and energy could be given to the issue of revising the special education statutes that this deserves.  Vote 15-0.

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SUZANNE LAVALLA’S QUESTIONS AND/OR THOUGHTS:

 

According to 186-C:7, Section 1:  IEPs (whether called plans or as proposed, programs) are responsibility of school district child with disability resides in and there is no reference that this is for children who attend public school (or approved charters, private, etc) - hence, homeschoolers should be covered in all districts in NH

Under 186-C:3-b, an advisory comittee on education of children with disabilities is formed, with representatives of private and public charter schools on this committee - is this a committee homeschoolers should ask to be a part of also, so we are represented as well.  Under new wording for 186 Policy and Procedure we are working on in Ad Hoc committee - the term least and restrictive environment is to be added to phrase all children with disabilities have right to free and appropriate public education(in least restrictive environment).  When discussing this - Rep. Stiles reiterated "least and restrictive environment" saying "wherever that may be, charter, public, home, and in whatever is in best interests of children.

Under 186-C:5, Section 1:   pursuant to RSA 541-A -  the DOE shall establish standards of approval for programs for children of disabilities in all districts, charter schools, regional special education centers, private organizations, or state insititutions .... including home-based programs.   I haven't received glossary yet (we were to be sent one with "reoccuring terms, etc") - home-based programs at this time, i believe, means critically ill children who get home therapies (bedford has a program for this thru their SPED programs where district pays private therapist to visit child at home).  If we push, as homeschoolers, to get more rights under IEP - will we then be subject to this rule?  Approval is a strong word - and can be misconstrued by many districts (as it is now just with letters of intent) - I fear if we push too much to be covered that the DOE will then try to approve our curriculum, based on what they do in districts

Every reference in this bill is to free and public education - should this be case?  or should it be just free and appropriate education in order to get coverage for homeschoolers

The main jist of this bill, is to review educationally disabled child to child with a disability and Individual Education Plan to Individual Education Program