BEN NUCKOLS
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The D.C. Council has approved two bills intended to improve services for special education students.
The bills were approved unanimously on Tuesday. They were introduced by independent Councilmember David Catania, who said they will address a special-education crisis in the District of Columbia. Catania is running for mayor and has made education a top priority.
The District serves more than 13,000 students with disabilities. The achievement gap between those students and the general student population has been growing since 2007.
The legislation would establish the procedural safeguards that exist for parents in jurisdictions with more effective special education programs. Parents would be informed in greater detail about services for their children and given greater due process protections. Democratic Mayor Vincent Gray has said he supports the legislation.
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