Resolve, To Provide a Program Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sec. 1. Department of Education to study program models for children with autism spectrum disorders. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall conduct a study of educational services for children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. The department shall convene a work group with broad stakeholder representation, including parents, involved in meeting the educational needs of children and youth with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. The purpose of the work group is to analyze current educational services and to make recommendations that will assist the department to ensure that children and youth with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders have access to appropriate and effective services to meet their educational needs. The work group shall address the following issues:

1. The barriers to full inclusion for a student with autism or another pervasive developmental disorder and how the barriers are addressed;

2. Ensuring that appropriate individualized educational services by schools, in the least restrictive environment, are available to students diagnosed with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders and ensuring that parents are included in the process of determining those services;

3. Ensuring a successful transition by schools from one grade to the next grade for a student diagnosed with autism or another pervasive developmental disorder;

4. The resources about autism and other pervasive developmental disorders that are available to education professionals and paraprofessionals;

5. The current gaps in information about autism and other pervasive developmental disorders for education professionals and paraprofessionals and how these gaps can be addressed; and

6. The training requirements for education professionals and paraprofessionals who work with students diagnosed with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders; and be it further

Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall submit a report, including the findings and recommendations from the work group under section 1, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 29, 2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit legislation related to this report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.