Caddo Parish Special Education

On December 13, 2006, the Center joined with the Southern Disability Law Center, the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, and the private firm of Walker and Lyons in filing a class administrative complaint against the Caddo parish, Louisiana, school district. The complaint was filed on behalf of all special education students who manifest behavioral issues and are subject to repeated disciplinary removals from school (including suspensions and placement in alternative schools).

The complaint demands that the school district do the following:

• Hire a nationally recognized expert in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to help the district develop and implement school-wide PBIS, develop behavior intervention plans, develop functional behavioral assessments, and conduct manifestation determination reviews

• Strictly comply with IDEA's discipline requirements

• Develop strategies for reducing the number of suspensions of students with disabilities

• Reduce the number of Emotionally Disturbed children in self-contained classrooms

• Place certified special education teachers in self-contained classrooms and alternative schools

• Provide IEP services at all alternative schools

• Significantly increase the amount and duration of social work, counseling, and psychological services

• Implement reading and math remediation programs at all elementary schools with ED children