School District 12 board members were told Tuesday night that new federal rules have altered the way school officials are allowed to deal with special education students, especially when it comes to disciplinary action.
Board President Maureen Woodall said the federal mandates were discussed at a meeting Monday night of the North DuPage Special Education Cooperative.
She said one of the new mandates stipulates that no special education student can be suspended or expelled because of conduct that is a result of “behavior that is a manifestation of the disability.” She said that includes special education students who might enter a school with a weapon.
The rules “will make it more difficult for schools to be consistent in discipline,” she said.
