Serving the special education students, families, service providers and member school districts of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20  [Northampton, Monroe & Pike]

"Every child is entitled to an education based on his or her individual needs."

History of the Local Rights to Education Task Force

HISTORY - The Local Rights To Special Education Task Force (LTF) system was established in 1972 as part of the Consent Decree between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the P.A.R.C -PA Association for Retarded Citizens. The PARC Consent Decree guaranteed a free public program of education for all school-aged persons with mental retardation or thought-to-have mental retardation regardless of their intellectual functioning. The Right to Education Consent Agreement of 1972 provided for the establishment of a Local Task Force in each of the 29 Intermediate Units   In 1975, the Right to Education was extended by state regulations to include learning disabilities, physical handicaps, emotional difficulties and hearing, visual, speech, and language impairment. Members of the local task force include parents of children in special education, educators, advocates and service providers of children with special needs, and concerned citizens. The task force is required to have 51 percent parent-consumer membership.

MISSION - The Local Rights To Special Education Task Force - 20 serves 13 School Districts as a resource for children with all disabilities and their families in the 8 School Districts in Northampton County, 4 School Districts in Monroe County and 1 School District in Pike County. Our role is to communicate needs and problems to the appropriate sources.
     
MEMBERSHIP of the Local Rights To Special Education Task Force - 20 is made up of Parents of children with special needs (Consumers), School Officials, and Community Representatives serving school age children with special needs. Members of the local task force include parents of children in special education, educators, advocates and service providers of children with special needs, and concerned citizens. The task force is required to have 51 percent parent-consumer membership. The Local Rights To Special Education Task Force - 20 has at least one more Parent/Consumer than the total number of agency representatives.

LTF’s are actively involved with programs and services for students with disabilities in all school districts across the state and follow procedures outlined in the member handbook developed by the State Task Force.

We encourage everyone with an interest in the free and appropriate public education of students with special needs to become an active and involved member of the local task force. Working together, we will strive to improve, strengthen, expand, and monitor special education programs and services for all school-aged children with special needs.

For information on our Local Task Force meetings. Check our calendar for meeting locations and the list of scheduled presenters/topics. For more information, contact the task force officers at:

Mr. Joe Hurd- Chairperson Local Task Force 20
Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Office @ (610) 515-6449. - [H] 610-923-6188 LTF20
6 Danforth Drive
Easton, PA 18045-7899       LTF Webmaster 

Ms. Jane Erdo - Vice-Chairperson Local Task Force 20
Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Office @ (610) 515-6449. LTF20
6 Danforth Drive
Easton, PA 18045-7899      

Meeting Dates for the 2007-2008 School year are as follows.

Updates on PDE Conference 2008: Indicators for Success: Improvement, Performance, and Results and STF updates Presentation at March 10, 2008 Meeting

September 17, 2007 - IU 20 Office
October 15, 2007 - IU 20 Office
November 19, 2007 - IU 20 Office
January 14, 2008 - IU 20 Office
Snow Date - January 15, 2008
March 10, 2008 - IU 20 Office
Snow Date - March 11, 2008
May 12, 2008 - IU 20 Office

LTF-20 Meetings are currently scheduled to be held six times a year.   REF:  Member Handbook Sec  6.4,  Procedures.   Section 6.4.1 All meetings of the Local Task Force are open to the public but are not considered open-discussion meetings. REF:  Member Handbook Sec  6.4,  for any additional information on  Procedures   LTF20 Task Force Meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

__REF:  Member Handbook Sec  6.2,  for any additional information on Meetings__

“to insure that the intent and spirit of the Agreement is carried out throughout the Commonwealth.”

6.3.1 The primary purpose is to make recommendations that assist in improving, strengthening, expanding ( where needed ) and monitoring programs and services for school aged children with mental retardation. ADD [0ctober 6, 05 LTF20 Sec 6.3.1 " and all students receiving special education services "including preschool"]

 6.3.2 As an Advocate Group for school-aged children with MR, it carries out the letter and spirit of the Right to Education Consent Agreement. (PARC vs. Commonwealth)

6.3.3 The Local Task Force follows the policies, procedures and guidelines outlined by the State Task Force. It should review recommendations and communications from the State Task Force as a regular agenda item.

6.3.4 The Local Task Force cooperates with direct service provider agencies, both public and private, in planning for a continuum of programs and services. It assists in assuring a minimum of duplication.

6.3.5 The Local Task Force refers problems identified locally to the appropriate local agency or to the State Task Force for clarification, recommendation or solution.

6.3.6 The Local Task Force recommendations to the State Task Force or other appropriate groups concerning solutions to problems identified locally which may have ramifications on a regional or statewide basis.

6.3.7. The Local Task Force trains new members and serves as a vehicle for educating the community at large about the needs of students with mental retardation..   ADD [0ctober 6, 05 LTF20 Sec 6.3.7 " and all students receiving special education services "including preschool"]

6.3.8 The Local Task Force may review and comment on all intermediate unit and school district special education plans and budgets prior to submission to the Department of Education. ADD [0ctober 6, 05 LTF20 Sec 6.3.8 "A financial summary to be prepared and distributed to membership yearly"

6.3.9 The Local Task Force assists the State Task Force in the collection of data to determine the effectiveness of the Right to Education for individuals who receive MR services.

 8.0 PROBLEM SOLVING AND POLICES              REF:  Member Handbook Sec 8.0, PG 28-29

8.1 Procedures for Resolving Problems

 There are times when people with problems may contact members of The Local Task Forces for help. The following steps should be used, in order in which they are listed, to resolve such problems:

8.1.1  Refer the matter to the representative of the school district and/or intermediate unit on The Local Task Force after ascertaining previous contact with representatives of these agencies.

8.1.2   If the situation is not resolved of clarified, refer the matter to the Special Education Advisor in the Bureau of Special Education.

8.1.3   If the situation is still not resolved of clarified, contact the special assistant for Right to Education, who will determine whether it should be referred to the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education for administration action or The State Task Force for review and recommendation..

Situations involving programs not operated by the Department of Education can be handled in a similar manner by substituting persons responsible for programs, such as the MH/MR representative, the county MH/MR administrator or regional administrator for mental retardation and finally the special assistant for Right to Education. Such matters will be handled in a matter comparable to that in 8.1.3.   PaTTAN

7.6 Pg 28,  The Arc of Pennsylvania  The Arc of Pennsylvania is the voice of the consumer advocate at The State Task Force Level. Consumer advocates make certain the The State Task Force acts on behalf of the children and not on behalf of administrative concern. Consumer advocates offer The State Task Force the consumer viewpoint

The Arc of Lehigh & Northampton Counties
2289 Avenue A
Bethlehem, PA 18017
(610) 849-8076
thearc@ptd.net
http://www.arcofl-n.org
_______________

The Arc of Northeastern PA
115 Meadow Avenue
Scranton, PA 18505
(570) 346-4010
http://www.thearcnepa.org
[ Monroe & Pike Counties]

7.7. Pg 28 Citizens  Citizens provide the agency representatives on The Task Force with immediate feedback on the practicality and meaning of their recommendations and actions. They also serve as a source for voicing the concerns of all consumers/citizens

REF:  Member Handbook Sec  8.0,  for any additional information on  Problem Solving and Policies [ Procedures ]

REF:  Member Handbook Sec  6.3,  for any additional information on LTF Duties and Responsibilities _____________________________________________________________

The Advocacy Alliance http://www.theadvocacyalliance.org

The Arc of Northeastern PA http://www.thearcnepa.org

ASCEND Group (An Asperger Syndrome Information Alliance) http://www.ascendgroup.org

AutismLink http://www.autismlink.com

Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania http://www.biapa.org

Carbon- Monroe-Pike Counties MH/MR Program http://www.cmpmhmr.cog.pa.us

Down Syndrome Parent Network http://www.dspn.org

Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania http://www.efsepa.org

NAMI Pennsylvania (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) http://namipa.nami.org

Parent to Parent of PA http://www.parenttoparent.org

Pennsylvania Health Law Project http://www.phlp.org/

Pennsylvania Parents and Caregivers Resource Network http://www.ppcrn.org

Pennsylvania Protection and Advocacy Inc. http://www.ppainc.org

Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association http://www.psha.org

Pennsylvania Tourette Syndrome Association http://www.patourettesyndrome.org

Supporting Autism & Families Everywhere (S.A.F.E.) http://www.autismsafe.org

United Cerebral Palsy of Northeastern PA http://www.ucpnepa.com

Central Bucks School District (Special Education Resources) http://www.cbsd.org/sped/

The Center for Law and Education http://www.cleweb.org/

Council for Exceptional Children http://yahoo.capwiz.com/cek/home/

Education Law Center http://www.elc-pa.org/

IDEA FAQ's http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/education/idea/ideafaq.pdf

International Center for Leadership in Education http://www.leadered.com/

National Dissemination Center for Children With Disabilities (NICHCY) http://www.nichcy.org/index.html

Parent Education Network (PEN) http://www.parentednet.org/

PA Department of Education – Bureau of Special Education http://www.pde.state.pa.us/special_edu/site/default.asp

PA Department of Education http://www.pde.state.pa.us/?dsftns=30375

Pennsylvania Training & Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/

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(c)HURD 2004-2008 webmaster  nomart@juno.com   Last updated 02/02/2008

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