From the Austin American-Statesman:
“After the U.S. Department of Education proposed deep cuts to staff who safeguard the rights of students with disabilities, Texas advocates worry the move could create long-term challenges in the oversight of special education services and parent complaints.
…Federal administrators provide important oversight when parents submit complaints about special education services.
…Backlogs in complaints at the federal level could overburden state agencies and further delay a resolution — and a child’s access to services — in cases where a family needs an entity outside the school district to weigh in, said Steven Aleman, senior policy specialist with Disability Rights Texas.
‘What’s critical for students is to receive the interventions as quickly as possible and as effectively as possible,’ Aleman said. ‘A semester delay or — heaven forbid — a school year delay just puts that child back.’ ”
Read the full story on the Austin American-Statesman website.