Dear Parents:

This letter is going out to all parents of incoming kindergartners to let you know of our school’s philosophy of equal education, compliance with state and federal laws, especially concerning students with special needs, and how this is reflected in our classrooms. We value our students and parents highly and seek to keep communications lines open on all our policies, at all times. Providing a quality education to all students is our goal.

We know that every child deserves the best education available. The Federal and State governments have backed that up in law. There are three laws that concern children with disabilities that I would like to give you some information on:
1. The Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA was signed into law in 1990. The primary function of this law is to prevent discrimination of people with disabilities by employers, local and state governments, public facilities and telecommunications. It also defines what constitutes “disabilities” and the parameters of what are considered violations.
2. The Assistive Technology Act or ATA passed in 1998 and refunded in 2004. It says that each state is to receive funding from the federal government for assisted technology programs for disabled persons who qualify for the act. There is no age limit for this assistance; birth and up. This law encourages educational advancements, independent living, and employment. Teachers come under this act to gain the resources they need to teach effectively to every student in the classroom, offering a fair education.
3. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or IDEA affects children with disabilities and their education most closely. The law clearly states that all children with disabilities have the right to a free and appropriate education and it defines the parameters of those that qualify for an Individualized Education Program or IEP.

We want you to know that our education team is experienced in developing educational programs for children with special needs, while integrating all our students in an effective learning environment. If you have any concerns with the learning abilities of your child, let me know. This is an exciting time for you and your child and for me as well. I look forward to our year together and encourage you to speak with me anytime about all aspects of your child’s learning and education as they take this big step into kindergarten.

Sincerely,

Crystal Fronk, Kindergarten Teacher

Edtech 202 posts with information cited:
http://jiamariecree.blogspot.com/ http://heatherdavis202edtech.blogspot.com/ http://jocelynstearns.blogspot.com/ http://ryleemcclellan.blogspot.com/ http://trush-%20trush.blogspot.com/ http://willwardell.blogspot.com/

Links:
To find out more about IDEA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/, http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea2004.html
http://specialed.about.com/od/idea/a/ideadefined.html
To find out more about ATA: http://www.ncdae.org/activities/papers/carol/atapnes/html, http://www.afb.org/section.asp
http://www.ftcd.info/resources/ATlawsprint.pdf
To find out more about ADA: http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/ada.html