VA Parents: Remind Governor Kaine that parents aren’t asking for more or new rights but only that existing rights and protections not be taken away.
Please ask the Governor to return the regulations back to VDOE and to reinstate all current rights and protections that have been eliminated from the regs. Here’s how…
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) announced last week that the Secretary of Education signed off on the draft special education regulations and forwarded the regulatory package to Governor Kaine. The final proposed revision of the special ed regs is now in the Governor’s office — the final stage of the process!
Minor revisions to the draft regs were made by VDOE, but these were not enough to protect our children’s current rights in the special education process. Help Governor Kaine understand our concerns over eliminating long-held protections that ensure a fair and equitable system. Let him understand that the final regs represent a significant policy shift away from Virginia’s commitment to the parent-school partnership and the protection of our most vulnerable children.
Advocates from various organizations from across VA will meet with the Governor. Before that meeting Governor Kaine needs to hear the strong voices of parents, family, friends and other advocates of children with disabilities. Help ensure he receives a landslide of calls, emails and letters on this issue.
When you call or write, request Governor Kaine to formally object to the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia, return the regs to the VDOE and order a “notice of suspension.” These regs MUST be revised to ensure we retain the vital rights and protections that Virginia’s children and parents now have.
Governor Kaine’s Contact Info:
EMAIL ADDRESS: tkaine@governor.virginia.gov
PHONE NUMBERS: (804) 786-2211 / Fax: (804) 371-6351
MAILING ADDRESS: Office of the Governor, Patrick Henry Building , 3rd Floor, 1111 East Broad Street, Richmond , Virginia 23219
For more information on the proposed changes to the VA Special Education Regulations go to https://www.wrightslaw.com/virginia/regs.index.htm
