Schools would preserve students’ placement paths when services meet their needs

Students with disabilities would have a right to stay in their initial school’s feeder pattern. A feeder pattern is the sequence of schools a student’s initial school leads into. The right would not apply if the next school within that pattern lacks services that support the student’s individualized education program, or IEP. The act would take effect after mayoral approval or a veto override and a 30-day congressional review period.

The school agency would consult the student’s IEP team and give it written notice before changing where the student receives services. These steps would cover changes in service location for children with disabilities. The notice would explain the proposed move. For a move outside the current school progression, it would also explain why services within that progression cannot meet the student’s needs. Consultation and written notice would occur before the location changes.

The Mayor would set classroom staffing standards, and school agencies would explain their response when a classroom exceeds them. This would cover full-time special education classrooms separate from general education. Teachers, parents, and school administrators would receive the explanation. The explanation would describe additional resources or staff that will be assigned to meet each student’s IEP needs. The Mayor would issue implementation rules within 120 days after the section takes effect.