Latest news with #IndividualswithDisabilitiesAct
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former VB teacher arrested for trespassing, child porn possession, had long history of violations, reprimands
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Joseph Molineaux, the former Virginia Beach City Public Schools P.E. teacher recently charged with trespassing on school grounds and possession of child porn, received at least seven reprimands during his time with the school division. His violations ranged from sending inappropriate texts to a substitute teacher in November 2021 to violating the Individuals with Disabilities Act in April 2006. They also included using 'language/phrases that made [students] feel uncomfortable' in May 2022, according to documents obtained by 10 On Your Side through a Freedom of Information Act request. Molineaux was with the school system from August 1999 until he retired in February 2023. In that time, he was repeatedly threatened with dismissal unless he cleaned up his act, according to the documents. 'I cannot overstate how unprofessional and disturbing I find this situation and the need to reprimand you again for your behavior toward students,' an administrator at Kempsville High School wrote to him, less than a year before his retirement. 'To be clear, for you to remain employed, there must not be any additional incidents of this nature,' the letter concludes. 'In the future, if you do engage in inappropriate conduct or violate any other laws or any of the School Division's policies, procedures, or regulations, you will be recommended for dismissal.' That letter describes allegations made by his own pupils that Molineaux had repeatedly teased certain pairs of students who were friends, accusing them of being in a relationship. 'Where are your boyfriends,' the document recounts Molineaux asking a student. 'Do you need him to go into the bathroom with you,' he allegedly asked another. In the month before he left Kempsville in January 2023, administrators met with Molineaux to discuss his job performance and 'safety concerns with the learning environment.' 'In addition, you noted that security was called after students observed 'horseplaying' did not respond to a verbal redirection,' the letter documenting the meeting notes, of one of Molineaux's classes. 'As you acknowledged, the behavior observed was due to a lack of instruction planning and use of appropriate behavior interventions.' A letter dated Nov. 3, 2021 includes pieces of text conversations between Molineaux and a substitute covering his class the previous month. In them, he asked the woman if she was getting an operation to become a man. The substitute teacher subsequently told administrators she couldn't continue to cover the class. 'I'm going to try to extend my absence based on your experiences,' he texted her, according to the document. 'I don't want to walk into a firestorm.' In January 2021, Molineaux was disciplined for taking two flashlights from a security locker at Kempsville High. Two months later, he was reprimanded for failing to request a substitute teacher and properly report that he would be absent. '[T]his left students without adult supervision for 26 minutes,' the letter referencing that incident reads. In September 2011, Molineaux was admonished for his locker room talk while working at Green Run High School, after the parent of a student reported what he had said. 'Through students' statements and your own admission, it was established you did use profanity (mother f——s) and speak in an overly angry tone toward the students in the locker room,' the letter for that incident reads. 'You later apologized for your behavior.' In January 2006, Landstown High administrators sent an email to Molineaux referencing 'conduct unbecoming of a School Division Employee.' 'I am formally reprimanding you for making an anonymous phone call to the Virginian Pilot on December, 16, 2005, at 5:10 p.m. in response to an article… titled 'Lessons learned at Landstown?'' it reads. 'The phone call included profanity, and statements that may be construed as threatening.' An April 2006 letter describes Molineaux's repeated failure to meet with students who had IEPs (Individualized Educational Plans) and to complete the associated paperwork. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Tim Walz calls out RFK Jr. on children's health: ‘Just so blatantly false'
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ripped into Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s comments about autism and warned that the Trump administration's cuts to the Department of Education posed a risk to students with disabilities. Walz, the 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president alongside Kamala Harris, spoke to The Independent about the Trump administration, last year's presidential election and the way forward for Democrats. Walz said that he worried about the stigma that Kennedy's words would spread about people with disabilities. 'First of all, you know, basically stigmatizing these kids and basically saying, you know, they're not going to pay taxes, they're not going to contribute, or whatever, which is is just so blatantly false and, quite honestly, just evil in its intent and all the work we've done.' During the 2024 election, Walz disclosed that his son Gus, who went viral during the Democratic National Convention for his show of emotion, has a nonverbal learning disorder, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and an anxiety disorder. Last month, Kennedy spoke about the latest autism prevalence report from the Centers for Disease Control that showed that 1 in 31 children have autism spectrum disorder. During that time, Kennedy said that 'autism destroys families.' 'And these are kids who will never pay taxes, they'll never hold a job, they'll never play baseball, they'll never write a poem,' the son of Bobby Kennedy said. 'They'll never go out on a date.' At the time, Walz's wife, Gwen, called Kennedy's words 'deeply upsetting, especially coming from our nation's highest-ranking health official.' The governor also said he worried about the Department of Health and Human Services' plans to gather data on autistic people. Kennedy, who has long espoused the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism, has said that he wants to study the autism 'epidemic' and announce results by September. 'You know, this has been studied, forever, been studied by folks at the Mayo Clinic and others,' RFK Jr. said. 'And quite honestly, these fringe, basically lunatic ideas, are super dangerous, operationally, super dangerous, culturally.' Specifically, Walz spoke about the risks to the Department of Education. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to 'eliminate' the department, which is not legal because abolishing a government department would require an act of Congress. Walz, a former geography teacher, specifically mentioned how Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the former executive for WWE pro wrestling, did not seem to know what the Individuals with Disabilities Act was. 'I think the large number of Americans don't really understand the Department of Education being there is basically a civil rights protection with the passage of IDEA,' he said. 'That's the law, and operationally, that's what made sure that my son and millions of others like him across the country got Individual Education Plans that helped them succeed.' The IDEA, passed in 1990, guarantees students the right to a free appropriate public education, which includes resources like individualized education plans. 'This isn't like nice to have stuff or they're getting special treatment, it's that we've decided that everybody matters, and that what we've learned and what the science shows us, is we can make a difference,' Walz said. 'So when they undermine the Department of Education, when they undermine the laws, when you have a secretary of education that doesn't even know what idea is, when that is the core foundation principle in quality education, I am deeply worried.' Walz mentioned how as a teacher, IDEA helped him offer accommodations for his students. 'It might have been just as simple as recording my lectures or providing the notes ahead of time so they could be translated into Braille for my students,' he said. 'It was, it was just things that accommodated and made it better so that this child could succeed and learn geography in my class.' In recent months, the Department of Education has canceled research grants meant to find the most effective tools to help students with disabilities transition to adulthood.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
For students with disabilities, what's the difference between IEPs and 504 plans?
Young people with disabilities in the United States are guaranteed the right to a free and appropriate public education at federally funded schools. But with shifts and cuts at the Education Department, families may be facing changes under the Trump administration. Two federal laws – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – prohibit discrimination against students with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Education has for decades enforced the Individuals with Disabilities Act, but that could change under President Donald Trump. Trump signed an executive order in March attempting to close the federal Education Department. He's said that the Department of Health and Human Services, which enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, could oversee special education in the future. The two civil rights laws ensure that students are placed in the "least restrictive environments" so they are not separated from their peers unless truly necessary. The majority of students with disabilities protected under the laws in the nation's public schools have learning or developmental disabilities, including autism, dyslexia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and down's syndrome. Students who are deaf, blind or have other physical impairments are also protected by the laws. More: RFK Jr. says the government will know what caused the 'autism epidemic' by September The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act specifically requires schools to provide students with disabilities an equitable education to their nondisabled peers. That means schools must ensure students have access to an Individualized Education Plan, a written plan for accommodations that help students thrive in school based on their specific needs. These plans can include tests, assignments or lessons that are tailored to a student's learning style. Section 504 guarantees students with disabilities a different type of learning plan that is commonly known as a 504 plan. These learning plans are for students with a wide range of disabilities who need specific tools to help them learn equally to their peers in an integrated classroom. The accommodations can include a desk with an adjusted height for a student with a wheelchair, noise-canceling headphones for a student who has trouble staying focused or braille textbooks for a blind or visually impaired student. Disability rights experts, advocates and parents have told USA TODAY they're worried about the fate of these federally protected learning plans for students with disabilities under the Trump administration. It's still unclear whether or how protections for students with disabilities will be affected by a potential closure of the federal Education Department. Carrie Gillispie, a senior policy analyst with the education policy program at the liberal-leaning think tank New America, called the uncertainty of what will happen under the Trump administration is leading to more confusion for parents and teachers about legal rights for students with disabilities. Here are some of the key differences between the learning plans and how they can help students with disabilities and their families. Special education experts Worry about students with disabilities post-Education Department The Individuals with Disabilities Act, originally named the Education for All Handicapped Children Act when it was enacted in 1975, protects about 7.5 million students with disabilities in the United States from being turned away from public schools. Before the Individuals with Disabilities Act, neighborhood public schools could reject students with disabilities. Those kids would then either attend segregated schools for students with special needs or not go to school. Today, students with disabilities are guaranteed access to an Individualized Education Plan, known as an IEP. The plan allows schools to adjust their approach to meet the student's learning needs. "If a child has an IEP and I'm their teacher, I could change their worksheet to adjust the difficulty level or the length." Gillispie said. For a student to get formally recognized they have a disability that affords them the right to an IEP, they must first be evaluated by their school district. After school staff determine that a student qualifies for an IEP, they have 30 days to meet with the student and their parents about creating a written plan. A group of people, often including school staff and parents, decide on a student's learning goals and the learning adjustments they might need to achieve them. Teachers are tasked with implementing these practices and modifications and for monitoring student progress. If a plan isn't working, an IEP can change to reflect a student's needs. The IEP resides with the school district and travels with them throughout their schooling careers. For example, if a student graduates middle school the IEP will follow them to high school. Gillispie, in her role as a school psychologist who works with students with disabilities, assesses kids on their learning abilities when it's determined that they need an IEP. Then, she evaluates that information to see what classroom practices would best help them thrive. The journey to obtaining and modifying an IEP that works for a student with disabilities is notoriously challenging for parents, Gillispie said. Parents and educators often disagree on what a child needs to succeed and there's a knowledge gap between what parents know their child has access to and the reality of what the federal law offers them, she said. That's partly because each student has vastly unique needs. "Even three students with dyslexia will have some similar challenges, but will also be very different," Gillispie said. For parents of kids with disabilities Why IEPs could become more frustrating Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which was enacted in 1973, also requires schools to help students attend and thrive in traditional classes with nondisabled students. Students with disabilities who need specific tools − as opposed to curriculum modifications − to help them learn equally to their peers in integrated classrooms are offered 504 plans, said Daniel Van Sant, director of disability policy for the Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement. Will a Texas-led legal fight Over gender dysphoria threaten disabled student protections? These tools can include noise-cancelling headphones, assisted technology, additional breaks and clear deadlines, he said. Students with disabilities may have access to both 504 plans and IEPs if they need adjustments to curriculum and the learning environment to thrive. More than one million students with disabilities receive assistance from this type of education plan, according to the most recent data from the federal Education Department. Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@ Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's the difference between IEPs and 504 plans?
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
For students with disabilities, what's the difference between IEPs and 504 plans?
For students with disabilities, what's the difference between IEPs and 504 plans? Show Caption Hide Caption What we know now about President Trump's reshaping of education Education, especially higher education, has been a major focus of President Trump's term. Here is what we know now about his changes to education. Young people with disabilities in the United States are guaranteed the right to a free and appropriate public education at federally funded schools. But with shifts and cuts at the Education Department, families may be facing changes under the Trump administration. Two federal laws – the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act – prohibit discrimination against students with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Education has for decades enforced the Individuals with Disabilities Act, but that could change under President Donald Trump. Trump signed an executive order in March attempting to close the federal Education Department. He's said that the Department of Health and Human Services, which enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, could oversee special education in the future. The two civil rights laws ensure that students are placed in the "least restrictive environments" so they are not separated from their peers unless truly necessary. The majority of students with disabilities protected under the laws in the nation's public schools have learning or developmental disabilities, including autism, dyslexia, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and down's syndrome. Students who are deaf, blind or have other physical impairments are also protected by the laws. More: RFK Jr. says the government will know what caused the 'autism epidemic' by September The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act specifically requires schools to provide students with disabilities an equitable education to their nondisabled peers. That means schools must ensure students have access to an Individualized Education Plan, a written plan for accommodations that help students thrive in school based on their specific needs. These plans can include tests, assignments or lessons that are tailored to a student's learning style. Section 504 guarantees students with disabilities a different type of learning plan that is commonly known as a 504 plan. These learning plans are for students with a wide range of disabilities who need specific tools to help them learn equally to their peers in an integrated classroom. The accommodations can include a desk with an adjusted height for a student with a wheelchair, noise-canceling headphones for a student who has trouble staying focused or braille textbooks for a blind or visually impaired student. Disability rights experts, advocates and parents have told USA TODAY they're worried about the fate of these federally protected learning plans for students with disabilities under the Trump administration. It's still unclear whether or how protections for students with disabilities will be affected by a potential closure of the federal Education Department. Carrie Gillispie, a senior policy analyst with the education policy program at the liberal-leaning think tank New America, called the uncertainty of what will happen under the Trump administration is leading to more confusion for parents and teachers about legal rights for students with disabilities. Here are some of the key differences between the learning plans and how they can help students with disabilities and their families. Special education experts Worry about students with disabilities post-Education Department What is an IEP? The Individuals with Disabilities Act, originally named the Education for All Handicapped Children Act when it was enacted in 1975, protects about 7.5 million students with disabilities in the United States from being turned away from public schools. Before the Individuals with Disabilities Act, neighborhood public schools could reject students with disabilities. Those kids would then either attend segregated schools for students with special needs or not go to school. Today, students with disabilities are guaranteed access to an Individualized Education Plan, known as an IEP. The plan allows schools to adjust their approach to meet the student's learning needs. "If a child has an IEP and I'm their teacher, I could change their worksheet to adjust the difficulty level or the length." Gillispie said. For a student to get formally recognized they have a disability that affords them the right to an IEP, they must first be evaluated by their school district. After school staff determine that a student qualifies for an IEP, they have 30 days to meet with the student and their parents about creating a written plan. A group of people, often including school staff and parents, decide on a student's learning goals and the learning adjustments they might need to achieve them. Teachers are tasked with implementing these practices and modifications and for monitoring student progress. If a plan isn't working, an IEP can change to reflect a student's needs. The IEP resides with the school district and travels with them throughout their schooling careers. For example, if a student graduates middle school the IEP will follow them to high school. Gillispie, in her role as a school psychologist who works with students with disabilities, assesses kids on their learning abilities when it's determined that they need an IEP. Then, she evaluates that information to see what classroom practices would best help them thrive. The journey to obtaining and modifying an IEP that works for a student with disabilities is notoriously challenging for parents, Gillispie said. Parents and educators often disagree on what a child needs to succeed and there's a knowledge gap between what parents know their child has access to and the reality of what the federal law offers them, she said. That's partly because each student has vastly unique needs. "Even three students with dyslexia will have some similar challenges, but will also be very different," Gillispie said. For parents of kids with disabilities Why IEPs could become more frustrating What is a 504 plan? Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which was enacted in 1973, also requires schools to help students attend and thrive in traditional classes with nondisabled students. Students with disabilities who need specific tools − as opposed to curriculum modifications − to help them learn equally to their peers in integrated classrooms are offered 504 plans, said Daniel Van Sant, director of disability policy for the Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement. Will a Texas-led legal fight Over gender dysphoria threaten disabled student protections? These tools can include noise-cancelling headphones, assisted technology, additional breaks and clear deadlines, he said. Students with disabilities may have access to both 504 plans and IEPs if they need adjustments to curriculum and the learning environment to thrive. More than one million students with disabilities receive assistance from this type of education plan, according to the most recent data from the federal Education Department. Contact Kayla Jimenez at kjimenez@ Follow her on X at @kaylajjimenez.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump education budget hits preschool funding, civil rights, but boosts charter schools
President Trump is proposing massive cuts to education in his Friday budget request to Congress for fiscal 2026, including reduced funding for preschools, adult learning and the Education Department's Office of Civil Rights. 'The President's Skinny Budget reflects funding levels for an agency that is responsibly winding down, shifting some responsibilities to the states, and thoughtfully preparing a plan to delegate other critical functions to more appropriate entities. It supports the President's vision of expanding school choice and ensuring every American has access to an excellent education,' Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement. The biggest changes include consolidating 24 K-12 grant programs and seven Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) programs into two funding streams. The move, the Trump administration said, is to take away the influence of the Education Department on the states and give more power to parents of students with disabilities. Trump wants to get rid of adult education programs costing $729 million, saying they are not working and focusing on younger students will 'make remedial education for adults less necessary.' Preschool development grants would receive a cut of $315 million under his budget proposal, which says the grants were a 'tool of the last administration to push diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).' 'Through this program, Federal funding was provided to create a guidebook on 'Lessons for Creating Quality Care for Oregon's LGBTQIA+ Families' in collaboration with an organization called 'Pride Northwest,'' the White House's fact sheet said. In another move to reduce the size of the Department of Education, the Trump administration is looking to cut 35 percent of the funding for the Office of Civil Rights, which investigates discrimination complaints against both K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Howard University, the country's only federally chartered historically Black college or university, would have its funding cut to 2021 levels in a move the president says would make the funding commitment more sustainable. Charter schools, popular with Trump and other Republicans, were the only educational institutions to avoid the administration's proposed cuts on Friday, getting an additional $60 million in funding. 'The Skinny Budget saves billions in taxpayer dollars from going to duplicative, unaligned, or non-essential programs. I look forward to presenting a complete FY 2026 budget in the future and working with Congress to deliver on the promise for a new era in education,' McMahon said. Lawmakers, meanwhile, are hard at work on their own spending bills. Republicans, who control both chambers, have been divided on the best way to fund the government while advancing Trump's agenda. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
