BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

H-4508.1 _______________________________________________

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4020

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State of Washington 56th Legislature 2000 Regular Session

By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Wensman, Quall, Cox, Keiser, Talcott, Rockefeller, Thomas, Haigh, Carlson, Schindler, D. Schmidt, Sump, Mulliken, Benson, Barlean, H. Sommers, Pennington, Lisk, Dunn, Delvin, McDonald, Schual‑Berke, O'Brien and Esser)

Read first time 02/01/2000. Referred to Committee on .

TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, Many educators, particularly those who teach special education classes, find that the amount of federally required paperwork dramatically reduces both the quantity and quality of time they can devote to their students and their profession; and

WHEREAS, We believe that someone is responsible for this paperwork overload, yet we have been unable to determine who. Local districts claim the federal government is at fault along with our own state regulations and guidelines. The federal Department of Education tells us it is a local problem. Others identify the courts as the source of the problem; and

WHEREAS, Our school children do not particularly care who is responsible for the paperwork that reduces the time they see their teachers; and

WHEREAS, We commit that the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, representatives from local school districts, and representatives from all interested special education organizations, will strive to work together to limit the amount of state and local required paperwork to that which is appropriate and necessary to help children achieve their educational goals without diminishing the level or quality of education provided to the student; and

WHEREAS, We cannot do it alone given all of the conflicting claims and the role of the federal government;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress pass and the President approve legislation which would require a review of special education paperwork, work with our schools to reduce paperwork, and consider providing parents of special education students the opportunity to work with their child's educator to determine the most appropriate amount and the most appropriate type of paperwork which will help their child achieve their educational goals without diminishing the level or quality of education provided to the student and which will continue to protect the rights of students guaranteed under the individuals with disabilities education act. The goal of all concerned should be to limit the amount of paperwork to that which is necessary and beneficial to the individual student.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.