CARES Act report from the Secretary of Education is here!

Post date: Apr 27, 2020 11:0:2 PM

Insert huge sigh of relief.

The report includes almost no IDEA waivers.  

The one waiver that is directly relevant to children is entirely reasonable and helpful.  There is a waiver to extend the timeline for any needed in-person evaluations of toddlers transitioning from Part C (Birth to Three) to Part B (special education provided by school districts).  And the child is eligible to continue with Part C services past age 3 if needed, so there is no gap in programming.

So. . . no waiver to a Free and Appropriate Public Education.  No waiver for annual reviews.  No waiver for due process hearing timelines beyond what was already in the law.

This is a child-focused report, and I am enormously grateful to everyone who worked so hard to let our government know how much this matters.

The report is here.