A reliable parent advocate ...

... reported that she spoke with two U.S. Senate HELP committee aides on Friday, June 6, 2003. Both aides assured her that the Senate bill (currently expected out on Wednesday) will be more balanced and more responsive to parent concerns than H.R. 1350. Senator Sessions' main concern right now is with the discipline provisions which his office feels need to be clarified. They are considering working behavior into the IEP rather than having a separate process for it. His aide assured her that it is early enough in the process that parents can still have plenty of input into the final bill.

Senator Enzi's aide echoed the view that parents' concerns are being addressed by the Senate and that the final bill will be bipartisan and more balanced than H.R. 1350. He suggested that the HELP bill may not include the 3-year IEP or the removal of short-term objectives for K-12 students. He suggested that the controversial due process issues would probably be left for floor debate, which is expected to be extensive (a full week of debate is expected). Senator Enzi is also concerned with discipline at this point and is looking to reduce uncertainty in that area from the school's perspective.

Both aides suggested that upon release of the HELP committee bill, parents follow up with their own legislators and staff during the two-week public comment/mark-up period.

Hats off to these Senate offices, and others, that take the time to talk with parents, give us updates, and sincerely listen to our concerns. There have been other Senators and office staff members who have been very giving of information, but we have left them unnamed on this site, to date, by their request. They all know who they are and we appreciate them every bit as much as those with the names listed. Our children's futures are at stake, and there is nothing that we can do without reliable information.

As always, if you hear anything else about the progress of the Senate’s bill, please, contact us here at parentvolunteer@ourchildrenleftbehind.com .

Thanks to everyone for helping our children continue to dream their dreams.