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Parent advisory committee briefs board on least‑restrictive environment and raises concerns about voter registration of students with disabilities
Summary
A parent advisory committee update covered MDE guidance on least restrictive environment (LRE), training and services; board members raised concerns that some voter‑registration outreach may have targeted students who lack legal capacity to consent.
The board received an update from the Wayne County Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) on Nov. 11 that reviewed Michigan Department of Education (MDE) guidance on least‑restrictive environment (LRE) for students with disabilities and highlighted local professional development and countywide initiatives.
Cameron Dillard, executive director of student services, summarized PAC discussions that included what LRE means in practice — educating students with disabilities alongside non‑disabled peers to the greatest extent appropriate — member orientation, nominations for PAC leadership and shared reports from subcommittees and county staff. Dillard also noted countywide professional development attended by approximately 400 transportation providers covering bus evacuation, positive behavior interventions on buses, AAC devices and de‑escalation strategies.
The PAC update covered voting and accessibility for students with disabilities. The committee highlighted resources for students of voting age (Michigan allows education services through age 26) and accessibility guidance for guardians and families. The PAC also shared notices about National Disability Employment Awareness Month and county resources including a partnership with Eastern Michigan University to create a program to endorse general and special education teachers with a physical/other health impairment (POHAI) endorsement, plus a consultation offering from a child psychiatrist for Wayne County schools.
During public discussion about the PAC update, a board member raised concerns about an incident reported in the news in which guardians said a student who does not have legal decision‑making capacity was registered to vote during outreach in another district. The board member called that conduct "predatory" and asked what the district and county are doing to protect students who lack legal capacity from inappropriate voter‑registration activity. The meeting record shows the board requested follow‑up on how guardians can be informed and how the district will support protection of students eligible for services up to age 26.
Clarifying details: PAC meetings described as open to the public; county PAC training and resources were described but specific grant amounts or contracts were not given in the board discussion. The district said it will follow up with the PAC representative about next steps and provide any relevant guidance to buildings and families.
