Action Alert: Protect parents' rights to meaningful participation in their children's education

LB841 is an important bill proposed by Sen. Rountree that gives parents of children with disabilities the ability to consent to proposed services for their children. It also places the burden of proof on school districts, not parents, to prove that a child's education plan meets legal requirements when a dispute arises.

Individualized education programs (IEPs) are long, complicated contracts created by schools using special language and acronyms. Parents often have very little time to review and discuss their child's IEP before the document can be finalized.

Current law allows the IEP Team, comprised mostly of school staff, to finalize the services even if a parent doesn't consent. Once the IEP is finalized, a parent cannot refuse any service without refusing ALL services, or they must file a "due process" complaint, which is similar to a lawsuit.

LB841 allows parents to consent to all or a portion of their child's IEP. It also ensures services are only put in place or changed if the parent cannot be reached in a reasonable time or the district receives approval through a hearing process.

Additionally, when a dispute arises, this bill holds school districts responsible for proving the child's education plan provides a free appropriate public education, instead of requiring the parents to prove that it doesn't.

Give parents more rights to help their children learn. Please visit the Nebraska Legislature website and leave a public comment urging your representative to vote YES on LB841.