Join the Fight for NH Families! Please Sign this Petition for Passing HB581 Burden of Proof
New Hampshire parents and guardians of Special Needs Children and community members, undersigned, urge the NH State Senators to support HB581 related to shifting the burden of proof in special education due process hearings and study committee.
We are parents of children with disabilities and our children have not been provided with the services needed for our children to become independent, productive members of our community.
NH school districts are more concerned about their special education costs rather than the needs of our children, meeting federal IDEA and state requirements.
NH school districts know that parents have little chance of succeeding in due process hearings due to their disadvantages and that few parents can afford the costs of a hearing. As a result, NH school districts (and their contracted law firms) deny services to our kids, specifically targeting:
● Single parent households
● Low income households
● Minority households
NH school districts control the process knowing that parents have few options and our kids will not be their “obligation” after age 21.
NH Children with IEPs (roughly 20% of any class and approximately 36000 kids) statewide are:
● Scoring 14% proficient in math
● Scoring 17% proficient in reading
This renders them unemployable or underemployed and incapable of independent living and successful participation in our society.
Having that large a portion of students not gaining a proper education is unsustainable. It is not what we want, not what our kids want, and not what our community can sustain. NH school districts argue over a few thousand dollars worth of services but ignore the millions and billions which will be required to support this population if they can not be independent, can not work, and are not educated..
We believe that HB581 and changes to the burden of proof in due process hearings will level the playing field and remove the district incentives to delay the IEP process. NH school districts also have liability insurance which covers all of their due process costs. Parents have no such luxury and have to front the cost of a small car to go to due process just to get the services their child should have been receiving all along.
Tell the New Hampshire State Senators to pass HB581 and provide help to parents with children with disabilities in our efforts to work with districts to get the needed services and education for our children.
Let’s put the needs of children with disabilities first!
Updates
April 23, 2021
The petition has reached five hundred signatures today. This response demonstrates a clear consensus that the current burden of proof process requires meaningful reform.
Reached 500 supporters
April 20, 2021
April 20, 2021
The reach of this petition has surpassed my initial expectations and confirms that our community expects better for these students. This growing momentum reinforces the necessity of passing HB581 to ensure families have a fair opportunity to secure the services their children require.
Reached 100 supporters
April 16, 2021
April 14, 2021
We are approaching one hundred signatures on this petition. Please ensure your networks are aware of HB581 so we can reach this initial milestone before presenting our case to the State Senators.
134 Comments
As the parent of a now adult person with Autism, I know first hand how difficult it can be to maneuver through the educational system so that our child can get the support they need. Every child deserves an opportunity sat a good education, even those who don't fit the neuro typical mold.
Shift the burden of proof from parents to schools and watch how much more schools shift their stance on providing inadequate or no services to our kids.
Our families w/disabled children desperately need this in NH. Let’s join the eight other states who have made this happen, for our kids and for our future. This is for tax paying NH families like mine. Our son has Down syndrome and autism and is getting further behind every single day in NH. Please help us!
This sounds like mine and my son’s life right now. He is autistic and in the 6th grade and struggling to get the services he needs. Every time I speak up for my son it seems the school comes back at me with something else to go against my son. Please support HB581. Our vulnerable children need help and it’s up to us to get it!
Levelling the playing field for disadvantaged students and their families is a no brainer. Don't let NH fall behind the many states that already have similar legistlation. Support HB581!
It's already really hard to navigate and obtain special education services for children who need it. Why are we trying to take away what children need?
Help give these children the chance they deserve
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Join the Fight for NH Families! Please Sign this Petition for Passing HB581 Burden of Proof
New Hampshire parents and guardians of Special Needs Children and community members, undersigned, urge the NH State Senators to support HB581 related to shifting the burden of proof in special education due process hearings and study committee.
We are parents of children with disabilities and our children have not been provided with the services needed for our children to become independent, productive members of our community.
NH school districts are more concerned about their special education costs rather than the needs of our children, meeting federal IDEA and state requirements.
NH school districts know that parents have little chance of succeeding in due process hearings due to their disadvantages and that few parents can afford the costs of a hearing. As a result, NH school districts (and their contracted law firms) deny services to our kids, specifically targeting:
● Single parent households
● Low income households
● Minority households
NH school districts control the process knowing that parents have few options and our kids will not be their “obligation” after age 21.
NH Children with IEPs (roughly 20% of any class and approximately 36000 kids) statewide are:
● Scoring 14% proficient in math
● Scoring 17% proficient in reading
This renders them unemployable or underemployed and incapable of independent living and successful participation in our society.
Having that large a portion of students not gaining a proper education is unsustainable. It is not what we want, not what our kids want, and not what our community can sustain. NH school districts argue over a few thousand dollars worth of services but ignore the millions and billions which will be required to support this population if they can not be independent, can not work, and are not educated..
We believe that HB581 and changes to the burden of proof in due process hearings will level the playing field and remove the district incentives to delay the IEP process. NH school districts also have liability insurance which covers all of their due process costs. Parents have no such luxury and have to front the cost of a small car to go to due process just to get the services their child should have been receiving all along.
Tell the New Hampshire State Senators to pass HB581 and provide help to parents with children with disabilities in our efforts to work with districts to get the needed services and education for our children.
Let’s put the needs of children with disabilities first!
Updates
April 23, 2021
The petition has reached five hundred signatures today. This response demonstrates a clear consensus that the current burden of proof process requires meaningful reform.
Reached 500 supporters
April 20, 2021
April 20, 2021
The reach of this petition has surpassed my initial expectations and confirms that our community expects better for these students. This growing momentum reinforces the necessity of passing HB581 to ensure families have a fair opportunity to secure the services their children require.
Reached 100 supporters
April 16, 2021
April 14, 2021
We are approaching one hundred signatures on this petition. Please ensure your networks are aware of HB581 so we can reach this initial milestone before presenting our case to the State Senators.
134 Comments
School districts that are accountable to the student will not worry about potential legal fees. Those districts where students are not their priority, will step up and be accountable and avoid legal expenses. Accountability is a win-win.
As the parent of a now adult person with Autism, I know first hand how difficult it can be to maneuver through the educational system so that our child can get the support they need. Every child deserves an opportunity sat a good education, even those who don't fit the neuro typical mold.
Shift the burden of proof from parents to schools and watch how much more schools shift their stance on providing inadequate or no services to our kids.
Our families w/disabled children desperately need this in NH. Let’s join the eight other states who have made this happen, for our kids and for our future. This is for tax paying NH families like mine. Our son has Down syndrome and autism and is getting further behind every single day in NH. Please help us!
This sounds like mine and my son’s life right now. He is autistic and in the 6th grade and struggling to get the services he needs. Every time I speak up for my son it seems the school comes back at me with something else to go against my son. Please support HB581. Our vulnerable children need help and it’s up to us to get it!
Levelling the playing field for disadvantaged students and their families is a no brainer. Don't let NH fall behind the many states that already have similar legistlation. Support HB581!
It's already really hard to navigate and obtain special education services for children who need it. Why are we trying to take away what children need?
Help give these children the chance they deserve
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School districts that are accountable to the student will not worry about potential legal fees. Those districts where students are not their priority, will step up and be accountable and avoid legal expenses. Accountability is a win-win.