EDUCATION
Least Restrictive Environment Advisory Panel
Final Meeting of the Gaskin Advisory Panel is Announced
When
Thursday, June 3, 2010
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Where
Four Points by Sheraton
800 East Park Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17111
717-561-2800
What
The final meeting of the Advisory Panel on the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) (also known as the "Gaskin Advisory Panel")
The Gaskin Advisory Panel was established as an outcome of the Gaskin Settlement Agreement, a formal resolution between the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and a group of families and advocacy organizations who had filed, in 1994, a class-action lawsuit against PDE on behalf of Pennsylvania's students with disabilities.
The goal of the Gaskin Settlement Agreement was to ensure that Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams consider the regular classroom with supplementary aids and services before considering a more restrictive placement and to increase the numbers of students with disabilities being educated with non-disabled peers in their neighborhood schools in regular classrooms. The Advisory Panel was part of the Settlement Agreement (SA), which expires in September 19, 2010.
Why
At this meeting, we will present and discuss the panel's final report of progress made under the SA. There will be opportunity for public comment.
For more information: Dr. Martin Elks, Chair
Email: MartinElks@aol.com
Pennsylvania's Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel on the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) (also known as the "Gaskin Panel") Advisory Panel was established as an outcome of the Gaskin Settlement Agreement, a formal resolution between the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and a group of families and advocacy organizations who had filed a class-action lawsuit against PDE on behalf of a group of children with disabilities in 1994.
The goal of the Gaskin Settlement Agreement is to ensure that Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams consider the regular classroom with supplementary aids and services before considering a more restrictive placement and to increase the opportunities for students with disabilities to receive the supports and services needed to be educated with non-disabled peers in regular schools and classrooms.
The advisory panel is comprised of parents, advocates and educators who review system-wide progress in the delivery of instruction to students with disabilities in regular schools and general classrooms.
The panel hopes that these webpages will provide an easily accessible resource for public information and access to the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Advisory Panel.
PLEASE NOTE: The PA Department of Education is not involved in the creation or maintenance of these webpages. The information and documents contained therein do not necessarily express the opinions or views of the PA Department of Education.
The views presented on this page are the views of the the Gaskin Panel and do not represent the views of the Institute on Disabilities or Temple University.
