News and information for staff members and the Madison community
Vol. I No. 5 - March 29, 2006
The Department of Educational Services has started to issue a series of bulletins to provide information on the reauthorization of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA.)
The first of these — dated February 2006 -- can be reached by clicking here. In the same month that IDEA 2004 became effective — July 2005 -- the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) issued interim guidance to school districts in Wisconsin. Based on this interim guidance, the Madison school district developed an interim plan for compliance with the reauthorized law in August 2005.
Next summer or fall, the federal government is expected to issue rules and regulations that will clarify the provisions of the new federal law. Based on these rules and regulations, the DPI will issue final guidance for the state of Wisconsin. The Madison school district will then update its procedures and forms.
Compliance with federal law has been complicated in Wisconsin by the fact that our state, unlike many others, has had a separate state special education law — Chapter 115. In some areas, the state law has exceeded the requirements in IDEA 2004. Certain features, touted as improvements in the new federal law, have actually been part of Wisconsin law and local procedures for the last several years. In other areas, Chapter 115 has conflicted with IDEA 2004, creating difficulties for local districts trying to comply with the law.
The State Legislature has passed a compromise special education bill (SB529). It now goes to Governor Doyle, who is expected to sign it. The DPI anticipates changes will go into effect for the 2006-07 school year. The MMSD interim plan will remain in effect until the school district receives official direction from the DPI.
In the meantime, school districts are required to follow both state law and federal law, and the Madison school district's interim plan has attempted to do this.
This first bulletin highlights the major changes in policies and procedures in the Madison School District interim plan under IDEA 2004. Additional bulletins will be issued in the future as our school district's policies and procedures are updated to reflect the federal rules and regulations and changes in state law.
Last Updated: Wed Apr 26 07:48:50 2006
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