Judd Gregg: “Reducing the paperwork burdens within IDEA is one of the Senate's top priorities in reauthorizing this important law. We…”

“Reducing the paperwork burdens within IDEA is one of the Senate's top priorities in reauthorizing this important law. We want to empower teachers to spend more time with their students in the classroom, rather than spending endless hours filling out forms that do not lead to a better education for students. This bill already contains a number of excellent provisions aimed at cutting down on unnecessary paperwork for both teachers and parents. For instance, S. 1248 streamlines state and local requirements to ensure that paperwork focuses on improved educational and functional results for children with disabilities. It clarifies that no information is required in an IEP beyond what Federal law requires. It eliminates the requirements that IEPs must include benchmarks and short-term objectives that generate more paperwork, but requires a description of how progress is measured, including quarterly reports to parents. It reduces the number of times that procedural safeguards notices must be sent out to parents to once per year, unless their parent registers a complaint or requests a copy. It ensures that State regulations are consistent with IDEA and that any state-imposed requirements or paperwork reporting are clearly identified to local educational agencies. And it requires the Secretary to develop model forms, review paperwork requirements and provide Congress with proposals to reduce the paperwork burden on teachers.”