Denn Calls For Vigorous Enforcement Of New Laws Protecting Children With Disabilities

Laws Protect Educational Rights of Public School Students

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 25, 2010

Wilmington -Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn called today for state agencies to vigorously enforce new state laws protecting the educational rights of students with disabilities.  Denn made his remarks at the annual luncheon of the State Council for Persons with Disabilities.

Denn also announced that he would ask a group of Delaware attorneys to simplify the procedures that parents must follow to protect the educational rights of their children with disabilities.

The General Assembly passed three laws last year protecting the rights of public school children with disabilities:

• House Bill 328, which bars school districts from using an artificially low standard that some were employing to measure the services to which students with disabilities are entitled.
• House Bill 386, which requires school board members to receive specific training in the due process rights of students with disabilities.
• House Bill 387, which requires more active involvement of school boards in decisions to oppose parents’ protests of denials of service to their children.

“Now it is time to make these legislative victories mean something to the children for whom we fought,” Denn said.    “We in state government need to be vigilant, assertive and pro-active in making sure that these new laws are enforced as written.  We need to be reviewing student files, talking to parents, and holding districts accountable where we find problems.”