Sarah: Prince William County Va has instituted a policy prohibiting classroom observations by outside professional. The county says that it is a safety and privacy issue. Can the County institute this policy?
Observation: COUNTY PROHIBITS OBSERVATIONS BY OUTISIDE AGENCIES
I have received the new policies barring classroom observations by outside agencies in both Prince William County Schools (PWCS) and Manassas Park Schools. Parents hire educational consultants and advocates to observe since they often recognize that their presence confuses or upset their children. This policy clearly targets students with disabilities. PWCS is calling their policy best practice. I see no research to support this except from lawyers representing the school systems. How is this best practice for parents and their students with disabilities, especially for those with developmental delays? Is this a valid OCRS complaint?