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Gaskin v. Pennsylvania Class Action Suit
The Gaskin settlement affects over 280,000
students in Pennsylvania who receive special education. The lawsuit, which was
settled in 2005, had 12 named plaintiffs and 11 disabilities advocacy
organizations. Lydia Gaskin was the lead plaintiff in the case represented by
the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia.
Read about Lydia Gaskin, the class action suit named after her, and her
family. http://visionforequality.org/newsgaskin.html
The main focus the settlement is to ensure that
school districts comply with existing federal laws, specifically around issues
of "Least Restrictive Environment" (LRE). Schools will be monitored on how well
they are providing services to students with disabilities beginning first with
the general education classes. Greater technical assistance and on-site training
will be provided from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. New policies
require IEP teams to consider and school districts to provide a full range of
supplementary aids and services in regular ed classrooms to all students with
disabilities, including those with significant disabilities who can benefit from
education in regular ed classes. A Special Education Advisory Panel on LRE was
formed, and all complaints regarding LRE will be investigated.
Gaskin Updates
Download the opinion :
http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/regsforms/CourtOrdersGaskin.aspx
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/special_edu/cwp/view.asp?a=177&Q=109539
Letter
from Secretary of Education (Adobe .pdf file) sent by Dr. Gerald Zahorchek
to every superintendent.
More info
http://www.insidepde.state.pa.us/pdeintranet/site/default.asp BSE Webpage
http://www.pde.state.pa.us/special_edu/cwp/view.asp?a=177&Q=109539
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