Monthly Archives: November 2017

Was 13 an Unlucky Number for Congressman Luis V. Guitierrez ?


Congressman Gutierrez has always been a contradiction in motion.   He has preached clean liberalism, yet he has been a captive of big interests.   In Congress he represents a District of Hispanic American citizens, yet is more anti-Yankee than … Continue reading

Posted in Chicago, Crime, Economic Development, Economy, Education, Finance, Health, murder, Muslim, News, Taxation, Terrorists, Transportation, Union, War on Terror | Tagged | Leave a comment

Can Leyden Area Special Education CoOp (LASEC) Reinvent Themselves ? Or Is It Best That the CoOp Be Disbanded ?


On February 7, 2017, I wrote a blog article https://royfmc.com/2017/02/03/is-leyden-area-special-education-coop-lasec-obsolete-should-norwood-park-grammar-schools-withdraw-from-lasec-and-consolidate-special-education-services/ questioning whether LASEC was obsolete and whether Norwood Park Grammar Schools should disband ? Nine months later it has become clear that at least Norridge School District 80 and the … Continue reading

Posted in #leydenpride, Autism, East Leyden, Education, Elmwood Park School District 401, Employing Disabled, Franklin Park, gambling, Harwood Heights, IEP, Illinois, Leyden, Leyden Area Special Education CoOp, Mannheim School District 83, Norridge, Norridge School D80, Pennoyer School District 79, political satire, Rosemont School District 78, Schiller Park, Schiller Park School District 81, Special Education, Union Ridge SD86, West Leyden | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is the Future of the Leyden Area Special Education CoOp (LASEC) ?l


LASEC filled a unique community need in Leyden and Norwood Park Townships over the last 50 years by working with teachers, school leaders, and member school districts to improve educational and support services for students with disabilities,  including the following … Continue reading

Posted in #leydenpride, Autism, Chicago, East Leyden, Education, Elmwood Park School District 401, Employing Disabled, Franklin Park, Harwood Heights, IEP, Illinoi, Illinois, LASEC, Leyden, Leyden Area Special Education CoOp, Mannheim School District 83, Norridge, Norridge School D80, Northlake, Pennoyer School District 79, politics, Rosemont School District 78, Roy F. McCampbell, Schiller Park, Schiller Park School District 81, schillerparkblog, Social Media, Special Education, Union Ridge SD86, West Leyden | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

In a recent guidance letter, the federal Office of Special Education Programs (“OSEP”) explained that a local educational agency (“LEA”) may not condition holding an IEP meeting on a parent’s attorney not participating or on the parent providing prior notice of its intent to invite the attorney. Letter to Andel, 116 LRP 8548 (February 17, 2016). In Letter to Andel, OSEP reiterated its longstanding position that the attendance of attorneys at IEP meetings “should be strongly discouraged” due to the potential for creating an adversarial atmosphere. Despite this position, OSEP pointed out that IDEA’s implementing regulations permit a parent or an LEA to invite to the IEP meeting individuals with special expertise regarding the child. However, while the regulations require the LEA to notify the parent in advance regarding who will attend an IEP meeting, there is no corresponding obligation on the part of the parent. OSEP stated that in the “spirit of cooperation,” the parent should inform the LEA ahead of time if he/she intends to bring an attorney. Often times, attorneys, as a matter of professional courtesy, will notify the LEA or its attorney if they intend on participating in an IEP meeting. However, there is nothing in the IDEA or its implementing regulations that would permit an LEA to conduct an IEP meeting on the condition that the parent’s attorney not participate. Therefore, when a parent unexpectedly brings his/her attorney to an IEP meeting, OSEP explained that it would be permissible for an LEA to reschedule the meeting to another date and time so that it could include its own attorney under the following circumstances: (1) the parent agrees to reschedule, and (2) the postponement does not result in a delay or denial of FAPE to the child.


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