Special education teachers and other school employees can no longer be prohibited from offering assistance to parents whose children might benefit from special education services or accommodations.
A new law that took effect Jan. 1, Assembly Bill 1895 by former Assembly Member Roderick Wright (D-48), prohibits direct or indirect use of official authority or influence to intimidate, threaten or coerce a school employee or a contractor from assisting a parent or guardian in obtaining services or accommodations for a pupil with exceptional needs. According to the Senate staff analysis, proponents of the measure say it is "a common experience for special education teachers to be discouraged by school administrators from offering more than formal assistance to parents whose children might benefit from special education services."