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Parents, special-education professionals urge board to protect IDEA rights amid federal changes and warn against vouchers
Summary
A parent and board-certified behavior analyst told the Wichita Board of Education that proposed federal changes and voucher proposals threaten services for students with disabilities and urged the district and community to safeguard FAPE under IDEA and 504 protections.
During the public-comment portion of the Feb. 10 board meeting a parent and special-education professional urged the Wichita Board of Education to protect students who receive special education services if federal policy shifts reduce protections or funding.
Brianna Maggard, who identified herself as a parent of three and a board-certified behavior analyst, told the board she is "in both professionally and as a parent" and described the workload and service needs of pre-K teachers who deliver IEP services, speech and occupational therapy and ESOL accommodations. Maggard said federal proposals to roll back the Department of Education’s role and expand private-school vouchers would endanger services that families rely on.
"So how are we planning to come together to protect their rights under FAPE and IDEA?" Maggard asked the board. She also warned of a lawsuit that, she said, Kansas had joined challenging Section 504’s protections; she urged the board and community to push back on any efforts that would reduce civil-rights protections for students with disabilities.
Ron Hobert, president of AFT Kansas and a USD 259 teacher, also urged support for the bond and for better working and learning conditions, recounting incidents of unsafe wiring and recurring power outages at his former school.
Why it matters: Maggard framed the issue as protecting federally guaranteed access to special education and related services, including differentiated instruction, speech-language services, occupational therapy and behavior intervention. She asked the board to consider the funding and policy responses needed at the state and local level should federal protections change.
Authorities referenced publicly: speakers mentioned IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as the statutory protections they rely on.
What the board did: the board did not take immediate policy action at the Feb. 10 meeting; these comments were recorded during the public-comment period for board members' consideration.
Ending: Maggard urged the board to "fight for the kids that have their basic rights within our community and our public schools. They need us to fight for them."
