JCAR the legislative committee that passes on state regulations blocked the pending special education rules based upon a determination that the regulation pose "a serious threat to the interests of children with disabilities and special-education teachers." The primary rationale for this decision was that the proposed regulations removed limits on class size and case loads. Hearings before legislative committees are now pending to consider amendments to the rules.
So the fight in Illinois over getting fair and effective regulations for children with special needs moves from the administrative setting to the legislature for now. This struggle over state regulatory implementation of IDEA 2004 promises to play out in other states over the next several months. Parents need to monitor their states Department of Education websites to have an active role in the shaping of these important regulations.