Michigan hearings on changes to special ed. administrative rules

Think Spring

The Michigan Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services will conduct public hearings to receive public comment on the following proposed administrative rules and documents:

    * Special Education Programs and Services Administrative Rules (2010-049 ED)
    * School Social Worker (2010-048 ED)
    * Notice and Consent Procedures
    * Due Process Complaint Procedures
    * State Complaint Procedures

For more complete information and links to the documents that are under consideration, see the MDE Website.

The hearings closest to Washtenaw County will be in Detroit on Monday, March 7, 2011 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Renaissance High School, 6565 West Outer Drive, Detroit, MI 48235. Phone: (313) 416-4600.

Written comments can be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., March 18, 2011, to:

Public Comment
Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services
Michigan Department of Education
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, MI 48909
mde-ose@michigan.gov
Fax: 517-373-7504

There are many references in these documents to federal regulations under I.D.E.A. Here is a link to those regulations. You will find more federal I.D.E.A. resources from the U. S. Department of Education here.

Laws, rules, and regulations are generally not the first things parents with children in special education think about when they have a spare moment. We are all be better off, however,  knowing something about them and how they apply to children and parents. It is not enough to have the laws and rules interpreted for us by others who may not have our children's interests at heart or who may have other agendas. Reading them and understanding them is one way to demystify the special education process.