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VA ED bows on consent and hearing officers

By John Lloyd on Sep. 12, 2008.

The Department of Education in the Commonwealth of Virginia (US) has withdrawn controversial proposals that would have limited parents’ authority in the education of their children with disabilities and would have changed the administrative reporting lines of special education hearing officers. Here is the lead from an article entitled “Special education proposals ruled out: Overwhelming opposition dooms bids to cut parent input and revise hearings” by Tyler Whitley of the Richmond (VA, US) Times-Dispatch

Under pressure from politicians and thousands of parents of special-education students, the state Department of Education has backed down from proposed rule changes that would limit parental consent for ending special-education services.

Billy K. Cannaday Jr., superintendent of public instruction, said the department also would withdraw a proposal to move the due-process hearings from the Virginia Supreme Court to the Department of Education.

Cannaday said the two proposals will not be included in new regulations that will be presented to the Board of Education in about a week.

Read the entire story. Flash of the electrons to Dan Hallahan for alerting me to this story.

Chairperson/Professor

By jgcp on Sep. 12, 2008.

The School of Education
Department of Special Education

Position Announcement for Chairperson/Professor
The School of Education at the University of Kansas is seeking a Chairperson/Professor for the Department of Special Education to assume responsibility by July or August, 2009. The Department of Special Education is nationally recognized for its doctoral, post-doctoral and master’s programs, and its graduate and undergraduate teacher licensure programs. It is a major center for research and development in the field.
The Department is looking for an individual who will embrace and advance our commitment to effective preparation of special education and early intervention teachers and leadership personnel for professional practice in school, community, and higher education settings. Our program graduates are prepared to serve infants, toddlers, children, youth, and adults with special educational needs in inclusive learning environments. Administratively, the Department is located on the main campus in Lawrence. The faculty offers preparation programs at this location and at the Edwards campus in suburban Kansas City.
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