The meeting is scheduled for 2/2. Please call today (Friday) or early next
week. They need to see that there's opposition to gutting Illinois special
education law! Thanks!!


On its agenda for its February 2, 2005, meeting, the Illinois
House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee
has House Bill 160, which would reduce Illinois' special
education rules and regulations to the absolute minimum
required by Federal special education law (IDEA).

House Bill 160 (should it become law) would make
any Illinois special education rule or regulation that
was not imposed by the Federal government "null
and void" on January 1, 2006.

Of course critical Illinois special education regulations
(such as special education class size) are not
required by IDEA, and would be "null and void" on
January 1, 2006, if House Bill 160 would pass.

In sponsoring HB 160, State Representative Roger
Eddy (who is also a local school superintendent)
continues his crusade against Illinois special
education rules and regulations that exceed those
strictly required by Federal special education law (IDEA).

Until now, IDEA was never intended to cover all parts or
requirements of special education. Illinois had Illinois
special education law, and Illinois special education
regulations.

ACTION NEEDED
Please call or Fax the Chairman of the House Committee
on Elementary and Secondary Education (Rep. Calvin
Giles) at his Chicago office (Phone 773-287-3804;
Fax 773-287-3805) or his Springfield office (Phone 217-782-5962).

The following are Democratic members of the Committee.
(As of yesterday, the Republican members had not yet
been posted.) You can call any of them: Monique Davis,
Michael Smith, Harry Osterman, David Miller, Karen
Yarbrough, Marlow Colvin, Kevin Joyce, Linda Chapa LaVia,
Robert Flider, Lisa Dugan, and Daniel Beiser.

PLEASE SAY: "House Bill 160 is scheduled for hearing on
February 2 before the House Elementary and Secondary
Education Committee. Please OPPOSE House Bill 160,
sponsored by Rep. Roger Eddy, which would eliminate any
Illinois special education regulation not required by the
Federal government. Many of Illinois' special education
regulations (such as the limits on class size) are critical for
students and teachers."

Keep your message simple: Don't say "IDEA" or any other
words that a legislator (or legislators's secretary) may not
be familiar with. Don't assume that the person you are
speaking with is familiar with special education.

House Bill 160 -
Amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code.
Prohibits the State Board of Education from adopting any rule
pursuant to that Article that imposes a responsibility or
requirement on a school district or school that (i) conflicts with
rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education
pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
or (ii) is not imposed by the U.S. Department of Education
pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Provides that any rule adopted by the State Board of Education that
violates this prohibition is null and void and has no effect
beginning on January 1, 2006. Effective January 1, 2006


Sandy, Illinois (alpy2@...)
Volunteer Co-Webmaster, Our Children Left Behind
(http://www.ourchildrenleftbehind.com)


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