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.
Leave a public comment urging senators to vote YES on LB841.
Nebraska Legislature WebsiteTell your representative to vote YES on LB841.
Find Your State SenatorERC's Testimony in Support of LB841.
ERC NewsRelated Entries
A win for collective advocacy, but the work to protect students is not over
On Monday, Voices for Children in Nebraska, Education Rights Counsel, and ACLU Nebraska joined community members, parents, educators, advocates, and others who spoke up about the use of electrified gloves in Nebraska schools. Our collective voice was heard. Those who raised concerns, shared their experiences, contacted decision-makers, and demanded better for Nebraska students helped make clear that these devices have no place in our schools.
Read More
Voices for Children, Education Rights Counsel, and ACLU of Nebraska issue joint statement on use of electrified gloves in schools.
Voices for Children in Nebraska, Education Rights Counsel, and ACLU of Nebraska stand together in strong opposition to the use of electrified gloves on children in schools and to School Resource Officers carrying these devices in school buildings. There will be an opportunity to share thoughts during time for public comment at the Omaha Public Schools board meeting on Monday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Families in other Omaha-area school districts should also reach out to their school boards to ask about their districts’ policies on use of force and memoranda of understanding with the Omaha Police Department.
Read More
Nebraska schools force kids into seclusion rooms. We don’t know how often it’s happening.
A Lincoln Journal Star investigation reveals that Nebraska schools are repeatedly isolating students with disabilities in seclusion rooms, often with little oversight and no statewide ban, prompting advocates to call for reform.
Read More