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IDEA Reauthorizing Briefing #23
from the Disability Rights
Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), April 4, 2003
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Calling on parents, advocates, and friends of children with
disabilities to mobilize to defeat H.R. 1350, the "Improving
Education Results for Children with Disabilities Act," the
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) called the
act "harmful to children with disabilities."
H.R. 1350 was approved by the House Subcommittee on Education
and Reform on April 2, 2003. It is scheduled to go to the full
House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Wednesday,
April 9.
Opponents of the legislation cite the following as limiting
options and programs for children:
1. Requiring that an individual educational program (IEP) need
only be designed once every three years instead of every year
and the elimination of short-term objectives and benchmarks. It
is at the IEP where parents are guaranteed involvement in
determining their child's educational program. The requirement
of short-term objectives and benchmarks allow for a measurement
of progress.
2. H.R. 1350 does not contain full funding for IDEA and thus
does nothing to ensure that additional resources will accompany
these major changes to the law. The bill diverts funds away from
direct services to children with disabilities and allows money
to be used for a new pre-referral program, to supplant local
education funds, to provide "supplemental services," and to be
used for purposes other than the provision of services.
Advocates support prevention and "pre-referral" programs, but
point out that adequate money is not currently provided by the
federal government to support needed "post-referral" programs.
3. The discipline provisions of H.R. 1350 punish children with
disabilities for disability-related behaviors, remove the civil
rights protections of IDEA for children with disabilities, and
deny children with disabilities the appropriate supports they
need to succeed in school.
4. The bill permits the development of state voucher programs
that would send some students with disabilities to private
schools that are not accountable under the law.
5. Voluntary binding arbitration, forced settlement discussions
without an attorney, waiting periods, and statutes of
limitations make it impossible for parents to participate in the
process, to monitor school services and supports or to
adequately protect their children.
Advocates are particularly concerned about H.R. 1350's
discipline provisions. The bill would allow schools to
unilaterally expel any child with a disability who is determined
to have violated any school "code of conduct," regardless of
severity, and to place the child in an alternative interim
setting for up to 45 days. Under this provision, a student could
be expelled for chewing gum, shouting out in class, or carrying
a plastic eating utensil in their lunch box.
The bill eliminates the "manifestation determination" review
process altogether, which protects students from being unfairly
punished for actions that are beyond their control because they
are a "manifestation" or result of student's disability.
The bill eliminates the requirement for functional behavioral
assessments and positive behavioral interventions.
In essence, advocates argue, the bill punishes students for
behavior which they cannot control and does nothing to require
schools to address and help students manage their behavior. The
bill allows school district personnel to remove a disabled child
from his or her current placement for the violation of any
school rule so long as the same duration of discipline would
apply to non-disabled students. Advocates are concerned that in
addition to unfairly punishing student's for having a
disability, the bill also gives schools an excuse to remove
students and close programs.
Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
can be contacted at:
Committee on Education and the Workforce
U. S. House of Representatives
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-4527
TDD/TTY: (202) 226-3372
Link to web sites of Representative's Offices:
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html
John A. Boehner, Ohio, Chairman
Washington, DC: (202) 225-6205
FAX 202-202-225-0704
EMAIL john.boehner@mail.house.gov
Toll free in Ohio: (800) 582-1001
Republican Members
Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin
(Vice Chairman)
Washington, DC: 202/225-2476
FAX: 202-225-2356
Toll-free in Wisconsin: 800/242-4883
Cass Ballenger, North Carolina
Washington, DC: 202-225-2576
EMAIL:
cass.ballenger@mail.house.gov
FAX: 202-225-0316
Toll free in NC only: 800-477-2576
Peter Hoekstra, Michigan
Washington, DC: (202)225-4401
FAX: 202-226-0779
EMAIL
tellhoek@mail.house.gov
Holland District Office (616)395-0030
Muskegon District Office: (231)722-8386
Cadillac District Office (231)775-0050
Howard "Buck" McKeon, California
Washington, DC: (202) 225-1956
FAX: 202-226-0683
EMAIL:
tellbuck@mail.house.gov
Santa Clarita District Office: 661) 254-2111
Michael N. Castle, Delaware
Washington DC: (202) 225-4165
FAX: 202-225-2291
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/castle
Wilmington Office: (302) 428-1902
Dover Office: (302) 736-1666
Toll Free: (800) 292-9541
Sam Johnson, Texas
Washington, DC: (202) 225-4201
FAX: 202-225-1485
EMAIL: go to website:
www.samjohnson.house.gov
District Office: (972) 470-0892
James C. Greenwood, Pennsylvania
Washington, DC: (202) 225-4276
FAX: 202-225-9511
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/greenwod
Doylestown Office: (215) 348-7511
Langhorne Office: (215) 752-7711
Charlie Norwood, Georgia
Washington, DC: (202) 225-4101
FAX: 202-226-0776
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/norwood
Augusta Office: (706) 733-7066
Toccoa Office: (706) 886-2776
Fred Upton, Michigan
Washington, DC: (202) 225-3761
EMAIL:
tellupton@mail.house.gov
FAX: 202-225-4986
Kalamazoo Office: (269) 385-0039
St. Joseph Office: (269) 982-1986
Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
Washington, DC: 202/225-3831
FAX: 202-225-5144
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/ehlers
Grand Rapids Office: 616/451-8383
Jim DeMint, South Carolina
Washington, DC: (202) 225-6030
FAX: 202-226-1177
EMAIL: jim.demint@mail.house.gov
Greenville Office: (864) 232-1141
Spartanburg Office: (864) 582-6422
Union Office: (864) 427-2205
Johnny Isakson, Georgia
Washington, DC: 202-225-4501
FAX: 202-225-4656
EMAIL: ga06@mail.house.gov
Georgia District Office: 404-252-5239
Judy Biggert, Illinois
Washington, DC: 202-225-3515
FAX: 202-225-9420
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.judybiggert.house.gov
District Office: 630-655-2052
Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania
Washington, DC: (202) 225-5836
FAX: 202-202-226-1000
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/platts
Toll Free: 1-877-902-1919
Adams County Office: (717) 338-1919
Cumberland Co. Office: (717) 249-0190
York County Office: (717) 600-1919
Patrick J. Tiberi, Ohio
Washington, DC: (202) 225-5355
FAX: 202-226-4523
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/tiberi
Time Sensitive Matters: 614-523-2555
District Office: (614) 523-2555
Ric Keller, Florida
Washington, DC: (202) 225-2176
FAX: 202-225-0999
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/keller
Orlando District Office: (407) 872-1962
Eustis District Office: (888) 642-1211
Oscala District Office: (888) 642-1211
Tom Osborne, Nebraska
Washington, DC: 202-225-6435
FAX: 202-226-1385
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/osborne
Scottsbluff District Office: 308-632-3333
Grand Island District Office: 308-381-5555
Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Washington, DC: (202) 225-2452
FAX: 202-225-2455
EMAIL: joe.Wilson@mail.house.gov
Lowcountry District Office: (843) 521-2530
The Midlands District Office: (803) 939-0041
Thomas Cole, Oklahoma
Washington, DC: 202-225-6165
FAX: 202-225-3512
EMAIL: tom.cole@mail.house.gov
Norman Office: 405-329-6500
Lawton Office: 580-357-2131
Jon C. Porter, Nevada
Washington, DC: 202-225-3252
FAX: 202-225-2185
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/porter
John Kline, Minnesota
Washington, DC: :(202) 225-2271
FAX: 202-225-2595
EMAIL: john.kline@mail.house.gov
Toll Free at: (888) 808-6644
Burnsville District Office: :(952) 808-1213
John R. Carter, Texas
Washington, DC: 202-225-3864
FAX: 202-225-5886
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/carter
Round Rock Office: 512-246-1600
College Station Office: 979-846-6068
Marilyn N. Musgrave, Colorado
Washington, DC: (202) 225-4676
FAX: 202-225-5870
EMAIL:
rep.musgrave@mail.house.gov
Loveland Office:(970) 663-3536
Greeley Office: (970) 352-4037
Sterling Office: (970) 522-1788
Las Animas Office: (719) 456-0925
Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee
Washington, DC: 202-225-2811
FAX: 202-225-3004
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/blackburn
Clarksville Office; 931-503-0391
Memphis Office: 901-382-5811
Franklin Office: 615-591-5161
Phil Gingrey, Georgia
Washington, DC: 202-225-2931
FAX: 202-225-2944
EMAIL: gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov
Carrollton District Office: 770-836-8130
Marietta District Office:770-429-1776
Rome District Office: 706-290-1776
Max Burns, Georgia
Washington, DC: 202-225-2823
FAX: 202-225-3377
EMAIL: max.burns@mail.house.gov
August Office: 706-854-4595
Statesboro Office: 912-764-4589
Savannah Office: 912-352-1736
Democrat Members
George Miller, California
(Ranking Minority Member)
Washington, DC: (202) 225-2095
FAX: 202-225-5609
EMAIL:
george.miller@mail.house.gov
Concord District Office: (925) 602-1880
Richmond District Office: (510) 262-6500
Vallejo District Office: (925) 602-1880
Dale E. Kildee, Michigan
Washington, DC: 202-225-3611
FAX: 202-225-6393
EMAIL:
dkildee@mail.house.gov
Flint District Office: 810-239-1437
Toll Free to MI Offices 1-800-662-2685
Major R. Owens, New York
Washington, DC: (202) 225-6231
FAX: 202-226-0112
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/owens
District Office 1: (718) 773-3100
Donald M. Payne, New Jersey
Washington, DC: (202) 225-3436
FAX: 202-225-4160
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/payne
Newark Office: (973) 645-3213
Elizabeth Office: (908) 629-0222
Robert E. Andrews, New Jersey
Washington, DC: (202) 225 - 6501
FAX: 202-225-6583
EMAIL: rob.andrews@mail.house.gov
District Offices: (856) 546 - 5100
Lynn C. Woolsey, California
Washington, DC: (202) 225-5161
FAX: 202-225-5163
EMAIL: Go to website - woolsey.house.gov
Marin Office:(415) 507-9554
Sonoma County Office: (707) 542-7182
Rubén Hinojosa, Texas
Washington, DC: (202) 225-2531
FAX: 202-225-5688
EMAIL:
rep.hinojosa@mail.house.gov
McAllen Office: (956) 682-5545
Beeville Office: (361) 358-8400
Carolyn McCarthy, New York
Washington, DC: 202-225-5516
FAX: 202-225-5758
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/carolynmccarthy
Hempstead: 516-489-7066
John F. Tierney, Massachusetts
Washington, DC: 202-225-8020
FAX: 202-225-5915
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/tierney
Peabody Office: 978-531-1669
Lynn Office: 781-595-7375
Ron Kind, Wisconsin
Washington, DC: 202-225-5506
FAX: 202-225-5739
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/kind
LaCrosse Office: 608-782-2558
Eau Claire Office: 715-831-9214
Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio
Washington, DC: 202-225-5871
FAX: 202-225-5745
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/kucinich
Lakewood Office: 216-228-8850
Parma Office: 440-845-2707
David Wu, Oregon
Washington, DC: 202-225-0855
FAX: 202-225-9497
EMAIL: Go to website:
www.house.gov/wu
Portland: 503-326-2901
Rush D. Holt, New Jersey
Washington, DC: 202-225-5801
FAX: 202-225-6025
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.holt.house.gov
Princeton Junction Office: 609-750-9365
Susan Davis, California
Washington, DC: 202-225-2040
FAX: 202-225-2948
EMAIL: susan.davis@mail.house.gov
San Diego Office: 619-280-5353
Betty McCollum, Minnesota
Washington, DC: 202-225-6631
FAX: 202-225-1968
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/mccollum
St. Paul Office: 651-224-9191
Danny Davis, Illinois
Washington, DC: 202-225-5641
FAX: 202-225-5641
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/davis
Chicago Office: 773-533-7520
Maywood Office: 708-345-6857
Ed Case, Hawaii
Washington, DC: 202-225-4906
FAX: 202-225-4987
EMAIL: ed.case@mail.house.gov
Honolulu Office: 808-541-1986
Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona
Washington, DC: 202-225-2435
FAX: 202-226-6846
EMAIL:
raul.grijalva@mail.house.gov
Tucson Office: 520-622-6788
Denise L. Majette, Georgia
Washington, DC: 202-225-1605
FAX: 202-226-0691
EMAIL: Go to website -
www.house.gov/majette
Decatur Office: 404-633-0927
Chris Van Hollen, Maryland
Washington, DC: 202-225-5341
FAX: 202-225-0375
EMAIL:
chris.vanhollen@mail.house.gov
Rockville Office: 301-424-3501
Timothy J. Ryan, Ohio
Washington, DC: 202-225-5261
FAX: 202-225-3719
EMAIL: tim.ryan@mail.house.gov
Youngstown Office: 330-740-0193
Timothy H. Bishop, New York
Washington, DC: 202-225-3826
FAX: 202-225-3143
EMAIL: tim.bishop@mail.house.gov
Coram Office: 631-696-6500 |
