William Hughes
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Collier Parents Seeking ESE Reform
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Promises An Open Letter to All Parents of ESE Childrenin the Collier County Public School DistrictWe are a group of concerned Collier County parent/advocates of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) children. We are seeking reform of the Collier County Public School District’s delivery of ESE Student services. In addition, we are demanding the School District and the Florida Department of Education respect our legal rights to due process under both I.D.E.A and Section 504 when we disagree with those service determinations. We have filed two US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights Class Discrimination Complaints. The first is against the School District. The second Complaint is against the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) and Department of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). These Class Discrimination Complaints provide a comprehensive summary of the various and interrelated issues under the following:
We have filed these complaints as Class Discrimination Complaints on behalf of all impacted Collier County and Florida ESE Students, rather than as individual complaints. Though quite long, please review the complaints carefully. They provide significant insight into the challenges the District, FDOE, and DOAH face in defending the wide-spread discrimination allegations outlined within the complaints. Specifically, please review the Section "Location and Identification" in the first Complaint against the School District. In this particular section we outline the District’s express obligations to continually identify, locate, and provide a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) to each and every ESE child within their jurisdiction. The Office of Civil Rights' investigation of the District found in our favor. The District violated the Federal civil rights of ESE students in denying them the right to both Effective Notice of Parents/Students Rights under Section 504, and denying them the right to Due Process Hearings under ADA/Section 504.
Despite entering into a Compliance Resolution Agreement with the OCR in September of 2008, Collier County Public School District brazenly continued to commit the very same violations of 34 C.F.R. 104.36. This resulted in our filing another Class Discrimination Complaint to the OCR, with a specific request for the U.S. Department of Education to refer the matter to the Department of Justice. We encourage you to complete our Contact Form for the benefit of your child's current and future ESE services (and legal rights) in establishing the "pattern of wide-spread discrimination" against ESE Students. You need only provide your contact information and check the box providing your consent to be contacted by the Office of Civil Rights. By sharing the educational, medical, and/or legal challenges you have previously faced with your District and/or the FDOE, you will assist the U.S. Department of Education / Office of Civil Rights investigators in establishing this pattern of discrimination. We have taken this action as a means of forcing the District and State to do what is proper and just for all of our children, in compliance with State and Federal laws. We think it a solid course of action and urge your cooperation in joining our efforts. All you need to do is complete the required sections of the form (including the Consent), and agreeing to cooperate with the Office of Civil Rights investigation. If you have any questions about this Class Discrimination Complaint or you wish to personally discuss any aspect of your experience with the District, please e-mail us with your phone number. We will respond promptly. Sincerely,
Collier County Parents Seeking ESE Reform © 2006 |
