IEP advocates pushing to end education budget cuts

Last week, 12-year-old Landen Hess, a boy who suffers from both autism and anxiety, was allegedly physically restrained to the point of injury by his special ed teacher at Seaford Middle School during a meltdown. Now local autism activists and IEP advocates are speaking out.

Some IEP advocates are placing the blame largely on education budget cuts in the state of Delaware.

Just a few weeks ago, however, Governor John Carney signed the HB 142 bill, which requires school resource officers to have disability training prior to entering the Delaware School System.

Jennifer Cinelli-Miller said the bill is a step in the right direction, but there is still more that needs to be done. She said, "This has been a statewide problem. I don't want people to think that it's unique to Seaford school district. It is statewide that we're having and seeing this issues and again, I do relate it back to the budget cuts and it's time for parents and families to speak up and start addressing Governor Carney and the general assembly and fight for the money for general education."

If you are interested in learning more about IEP's, you can visit the Department of Education's website and click on laws.

You can also learn more about IEP's here