Marc Molinaro: “I am very grateful that my Think Differently about Education Act has come to the floor today. This builds off of an…”

“I am very grateful that my Think Differently about Education Act has come to the floor today. This builds off of an initiative we launched in my home county about a decade ago. We launched the ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative as a means of embracing every one of every ability, creating a community that is more welcoming and supportive. The focus has been to break down barriers and create opportunities for those with intellectual, physical, and developmental disabilities. ThinkDIFFERENTLY is simply a call to action. This bill, the Think Differently about Education Act, builds on the success of that ThinkDIFFERENTLY initiative. This bill requires that public schools, K-12, notify parents of a child with a disability about their right to a third-party advocate in IEP meetings. Individualized education program plans are a document that outlines the educational needs of children with a disability, tailored specifically for them in coordination with the school, the parent or guardian, and the child. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, commonly known as IDEA, requires public schools to develop an IEP plan for every student with a disability. IDEA also entitles that the child and parent are able to bring a third-party advocate to the IEP meeting. However, in most cases, sadly, parents are unaware of their rights.…”