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Committee adopts amendment and advances bill requiring schools to provide IEP drafts and evaluations to parents ahead of meetings
Summary
House Bill 861, a codification of state board rules about IEP notifications, was amended to require proactive delivery of draft individualized education program documents and evaluations to parents and advanced out of committee.
The House Committee on Education approved House Bill 861, legislation that codifies current State Board of Education rules requiring local education agencies to provide parents with draft individualized education programs (IEPs) and copies of evaluations and assessments before the meeting.
Representative McCallman explained the bill as a codification of existing practice and said the bill changes the process from providing documents on request to an affirmative requirement to give parents the draft IEP at least 48 hours before the meeting and a notice at least 10 days before an IEP hearing.
Representative Johnson and other members raised concerns voiced by school psychologists that some assessment documents include technical language that parents might misinterpret if they received them without an explanation. The sponsor said the bill is intended to equip parents with time to prepare questions, and parents would still be able to decline the documents if they prefer to discuss results only in the meeting.
After discussion the committee recorded a roll-call vote (16 ayes, 0 nays, 2 present not voting) and advanced HB861 to calendar and rules.
