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Through our website, you can learn your rights as a taxpayer and parent as well as to which programs, monies and more you may be entitled...and why you may not be able to exercise these rights.

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Who We Are »
Betsy Combier

Help Us to Continue to Help Others »
Email: betsy.combier@gmail.com

 
The E-Accountability Foundation announces the

'A for Accountability' Award

to those who are willing to whistleblow unjust, misleading, or false actions and claims of the politico-educational complex in order to bring about educational reform in favor of children of all races, intellectual ability and economic status. They ask questions that need to be asked, such as "where is the money?" and "Why does it have to be this way?" and they never give up. These people have withstood adversity and have held those who seem not to believe in honesty, integrity and compassion accountable for their actions. The winners of our "A" work to expose wrong-doing not for themselves, but for others - total strangers - for the "Greater Good"of the community and, by their actions, exemplify courage and self-less passion. They are parent advocates. We salute you.

Winners of the "A":

Johnnie Mae Allen
David Possner
Dee Alpert
Aaron Carr
Harris Lirtzman
Hipolito Colon
Larry Fisher
The Giraffe Project and Giraffe Heroes' Program
Jimmy Kilpatrick and George Scott
Zach Kopplin
Matthew LaClair
Wangari Maathai
Erich Martel
Steve Orel, in memoriam, Interversity, and The World of Opportunity
Marla Ruzicka, in Memoriam
Nancy Swan
Bob Witanek
Peyton Wolcott
[ More Details » ]
 
COPAA Releases Statement Saying School Safety Commission Report Fails Students with Disabilities and Students of Color
While we are pleased to see an emphasis on mental health counseling, reducing bullying and building positive school climate, we fear that the over emphasis on "control, order and arming teachers" and the recommendation to rescind the discipline guidance that outlines best practices and provides tools and resources will undermine and derail attempts at creating positive environments for marginalized and at-risk students.
          
Protecting the Legal and Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities and their Families
December 18, 2018

Today, in response to the release of the Federal Commission on School Safety report and its recommendations, Denise Marshall, executive director, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) released the following statement:

“On the heels of so many actions that deny and oppress, we are simply appalled at yet another maneuver by this Administration that fails our children. The report and its recommendations do nothing to support students with disabilities when the data has shown for decades there is disparate treatment. Ignoring the facts and failing to take meaningful action amounts to deliberate discrimination.

While we are pleased to see an emphasis on mental health counseling, reducing bullying and building positive school climate, we fear that the over emphasis on "control, order and arming teachers" and the recommendation to rescind the discipline guidance that outlines best practices and provides tools and resources will undermine and derail attempts at creating positive environments for marginalized and at-risk students. There is no evidence the federal discipline guidelines had a causal relationship to Parkland or any other school massacre. In fact, students were often pushed out, denied services, and were dismally failed by the system meant to provide them support.”

Marshall concluded, “The report misses the mark to harness the power of research-based tools and best practices to support the whole child to succeed. We once again urge Secretary DeVos not to rescind the discipline guidance and instead take action that keeps all students safe in positive schools prepared to address the root causes of the disparate treatment of students with disabilities and students of color so that they can remain in school and receive the services and supports they need to learn and succeed.”

Read the full Safety Commission Report.

_____________

COPAA is an independent, nonprofit organization of parents, attorneys, advocates, and related professionals. COPAA members nationwide work to protect the civil rights and secure excellence in education on behalf of the 6.5 million children with disabilities in America. COPAA’s mission is to serve as a national voice for special education rights and is grounded in the belief that every child deserves the right to a quality education that prepares him or her for meaningful employment, higher education and lifelong learning, as well as full participation in his or her community.

Protecting Rights. Creating Opportunities. Changing Lives.
The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) is an independent, nonprofit unparalleled peer-to-peer network of attorneys, advocates, parents and related professionals dedicated to protecting and enforcing legal and civil rights of students with disabilities and their families at the national, state and local levels.

COPAA is premised on the belief that every child has the right to high-quality education and an equal opportunity to achieve his or her full academic potential. States, school districts and schools have an obligations under federal and state law to ensure that each student receives an individualized education that prepares them for work, college, and participation in his or her chosen community.

We work to increase the quality and quantity of advocate and attorney representation. We believe the key to accessing individualized, effective educational programs is assuring that students with disabilities and their parents are equal members of the educational team.

www.copaa.org

Betsy Combier
Editor, Parentadvocates.org
Editor, Advocatz.com
Editor, NYC Rubber Room Reporter
Editor, NYC Public Voice
Editor, National Public Voice
Editor, Courtbeat-New York and US Court Corruption

 
© 2003 The E-Accountability Foundation