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Last updated Thursday 17 June 2004 08:39 PM
bullet Poll Resultsbullet
P.S. IDEA, in conjunction with Our Children Left Behind, conducted polls relating to the IDEA reauthorization from August 7, 2003 through August 30, 2003.  The results are given below.*

Thank you for your participation!
Before disciplinary action can be taken, IDEA mandates that a school determine whether a special education student's behavior was a result (manifestation) of his/her disability.
Answers Votes Percent
1.
One system of discipline should apply to ALL students, regardless of disability. 22 3%
2.
It is unfair to punish a student for behaviors that are a manifestation of his/her disability. 624 97%
Total Votes: 646
Proposed IDEA legislation allows states to cap the attorney fees that prevailing parent/student attorneys can be reimbursed.
Answers Votes Percent
1.
This is a bad idea because attorneys are not bound to ACCEPT those caps. Thus, the prevailing party could still be required to make up the difference. 126 20%
2.
This is a good idea ONLY if the schools are similarly limited in the amount they can pay THEIR attorneys. 26 4%
3.
Both of the above. 444 71%
4.
None of the above. 27 4%
Total Votes: 623
Originally, the federal government promised to fund 40% of the cost of special education. The most that the federal government has ever provided to the states is 11 percent.
Answers Votes Percent
1.
With 40% funding, it is more likely that IDEA would be implemented. 135 21%
2.
It isn't funding, but attitude, that determines whether IDEA is implemented. 514 79%
Total Votes: 649
Proposed IDEA legislation mandates a "preliminary meeting" before a due process hearing can be held. If an agreement is reached during a preliminary meeting, it would be "enforceable in any State court ... or in a district court of the United States."
Answers Votes Percent
1.
This would decrease the number of due process hearings by resolving disputes at a lower level. 95 14%
2.
This would not change the number of due process hearings. 568 86%
Total Votes: 663
Proposed IDEA legislation would discontinue the use of short-term objectives (benchmarks) on the IEP, relying instead only on annual goals to assess progress.
Answers Votes Percent
1.
Benchmarks are necessary to ensure meaningful progress for students with disabilities. They also ensure accountability. 644 97%
2.
Benchmarks are not necessary to ensure meaningful progress for students with disabilities. Annual goals are sufficient, and any additional requirements generate unnecessary paperwork. 23 3%
Total Votes: 667
Proposed IDEA legislation requires states to merely provide OSEP with "assurances" that they'll meet all conditions for eligibility (such as provision of FAPE) rather that actually demonstrating to OSEP's satisfaction that the conditions are met.
Answers Votes Percent
1.
Providing assurances to OSEP is sufficient to ensure that state eligibility criteria will be met. 14 2%
2.
States need to be held more accountable to OSEP, not less. 676 98%
Total Votes: 690
Proposed IDEA legislation creates a "risk pool" for high-need children requiring services costing 4 times more than the average per-pupil expenditure. These risk pool funds should ...
Answers Votes Percent
1.
Follow the eligible child to any educational environment, regardless if parentally-placed. 587 96%
2.
Only be available if the student accepts the district's placement. 27 4%
Total Votes: 614
Proposed IDEA legislation would allow up to 15% of IDEA funds to be used for pre-referral services.
Answers Votes Percent
1.
This is a good idea. Students' needs will be met without all the red tape & stigma associated with special education. A referral can be made at any time, should more formal services be required. 45 6%
2.
This is a bad idea. Students receiving these pre-referral services would have none of IDEA’s procedural safeguards. It is unlikely that the parent/student would even be aware that IDEA funds were being used since there is no IEP and no placement. 654 94%
Total Votes: 699
Proposed IDEA legislation calls for statistical reporting on the numbers of mediations and due process hearings, along with their outcomes. The data collected, however, is not further applied.
Answers Votes Percent
1.
The reports should be used to reward districts showing improvements in resolving disputes at the lowest levels. 57 4%
2.
The reports should be used to penalize districts that have consistently high percentages of disputes culminating in due process hearings. 9 1%
3.
Both of the above. 1516 95%
4.
None of the above. 18 1%
Total Votes: 1600

* NOTE:  These polls were conducted using BraveNet's service, which allows visitors to vote only once per poll per IP address per day.  The polls were set to rotate through the 9 questions at random.  Poll questions were drafted by a panel of parent volunteers, and every attempt was made to ensure that the questions were balanced. That being said, we are not professional pollsters or statisticians.  We are just parents trying to give our legislators what they've asked for -- DATA.  Please feel free to copy, use, and/or distribute the poll results as you continue to advocate for a better IDEA.  As a courtesy to those receiving your letters, please cite your source as "Parents Supporting IDEA at www.psIDEA.org"  Thank you.