This is it! The last meeting of the IEP Task Force based on the legislation from Senate Concurring Resolution #63. The IEP Task Force may reconvene but this will be the last meeting prior to the report to Governor Markell. Lieutenant Governor (soon to be Attorney General) Matt Denn indicated this will be a short meeting. The members are going over the draft to see if any changes are suggested.
Diane Eastburn asked for clarification on distinctions in the draft about school districts and charter schools. Denn clarified it is written like that because no charter school is part of a district (aside from the ones in Red Clay). Deb Heffernan stated having an IEP with a gold standard is good but she wants to make sure they are implemented and kids are more proficient. Senator Lawson said he wants to make sure all paragraphs mention school districts and charter schools. Marissa Band added Department of Education to which Denn agreed.
Ruth Lavelle had questions about progress reports in terms of transition goals. Dale Mitusevich with the DOE (sitting in for Maryann Mieczkowski) said these goals are post-secondary goals, but he suggested progress reports should show how the student is doing towards reaching those goals. Lots of back and forth discussion regarding the exact wording. Issue solved after a few minutes.
Meeting is about to end after public comment. Senator Nicole Poore thanked Denn for getting it going. Only public comment was from this guy, and I thanked Denn as well and Senator Poore and other legislators who helped push to get parents on the task force. I told the task force we have a long way to go with IEPs in Delaware but I am confident the suggestions made from this task force will help the process. I asked Matt Denn if he would chair the task force if it continues. He said it depends on what the legislature decides about reconvening the task force.
The Season Of Myths 