Think Differently About Education Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. BEAN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4259) to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to require notification with respect to individualized education program teams, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4259

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Think Differently about Education Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR IEP TEAMS.

Section 614(d) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1414(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``(8) Notification required.--At the beginning of each school year, each local educational agency, State educational agency, or other State agency, as the case may be, shall notify each parent of a child with a disability in the agency's jurisdiction that such parent may, under paragraph (1)(B)(vi), include individuals who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the child, including related services personnel as appropriate, as part of the individualized education program team for such child.''.

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Mr. BEAN of Florida. 4259.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4259, the Think Differently about Education Act of 2023.

America's children are our Nation's future leaders, and they deserve to be equipped with the resources they need to succeed in the classroom. This is something that everyone can and should agree on. Every child, including children with learning differences, has unique needs that must be met and understood by teachers and school administrators.

H.R. 4259 builds on existing progress achieved by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by adding another layer of critical protections for parents of children with disabilities.

Under this legislation, educational agencies would be required to properly inform parents of their right to bring in outside experts who can advocate for the best interests of their children when it comes to their education. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, this bill will improve families' ability to advocate for their children to receive an education that allows them to flourish.

Mr. Speaker, this is a solution that safeguards parental rights and reaffirms the fundamental role of parents in the care, upbringing, and education of their children. The simple truth is that every child has the potential to flourish when given the right support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the bill H.R. 4259.

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