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Committee advances bill that would require districts to provide IEP drafts and evaluation reports to parents before meetings
Summary
Lawmakers voted unanimously to send a bill to the calendar that would codify existing practices requiring districts to give parents copies of draft IEPs and the evaluation report used to determine special‑education eligibility at least 48 hours before meetings.
The Senate Education Committee approved legislation (Senate Bill 10 73) that would codify common practice requiring local education agencies to provide parents or guardians with a copy of a student’s draft individualized education program (IEP) and the evaluation report used to determine eligibility at least 48 hours before an IEP meeting.
Leader Johnson, speaking for the bill and lead amendment, told the committee that the IEP is a legally required plan under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and that many LEAs already give parents notice and a draft IEP. The amendment adopted in committee would make those procedures statutory for Tennessee and require that a copy of the student evaluation report be provided at least 48 hours in advance so parents can be prepared to participate.
Committee members asked procedural questions; no opposition testimony was recorded. The committee voted 8‑0 to send the bill to the Senate calendar.
Supporters said the bill would standardize and protect parents’ opportunity to be prepared for IEP meetings. The sponsor noted that a handful of districts had, in the past, declined to provide evaluation reports, calling them “not official,” and said the bill would remove that barrier so families receive the same information and notice statewide.
