Hearing scheduled Nov. 29 on scope statement related to disproportionality in special education

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction will conduct a preliminary public hearing from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 29 on a statement of scope related to disproportionality in special education and local education agency (LEA) determinations under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The hearing will be held at the DPI’s headquarters, GEF 3, Room P41, 125 South Webster Street, Madison. The hearing site is fully accessible to people with disabilities. For those who cannot attend the hearing, written comments will be given the same consideration as public testimony.

The statement of scope will guide development of emergency and permanent rules to amend Chapter PI 11, establishing standards and criteria related to racial and ethnic disproportionality in special education identification, placement, and discipline. The determination of significant disproportionality will be based solely on a collection and examination of data and not on policies, procedures, or practices. Procedures related to enforcement of LEA determinations under IDEA will also be set based on federal guidance and stakeholder input.

A statement of scope is prepared in advance of any rule that an agency plans to promulgate. It includes a description of the objective of the rule, a description of existing policies relevant to the rule and an analysis of policy alternatives, the statutory authority for the rule, estimates of the amount of time that is expected to develop the rule, a description of entities affected by the rule, and a summary of any federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the rule. As the rule is promulgated, the department will conduct an additional public hearing or hearings and comment period for the emergency and proposed permanent administrative rules.

A copy of the scope statement is available on the department’s Administrative Rules webpage or the Wisconsin Legislature Rules site. Written comments may be submitted in lieu of testimony by Nov. 30 online or sent to the department’s administrative rules coordinator by email or U.S. mail. Send to Carl Bryan, 125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI 53707-7841.