缅因州七所私立学校起诉州教育部 称特殊教育紧急规则违法限制安全评估
缅因州七所私立学校已对州教育部提起诉讼，指控该部门出台的一项特殊教育紧急规则违法，限制学校开展安全评估的能力。原告为缅因州独立学校协会，代表七所学校及斯珀温克服务公司。诉状称，州教育部颁布的紧急规则取消了独立学校针对表现出危险行为的学生进行个别化安全评估的程序，迫使学校通过诉讼来保障学生、教师与员工的安全。代理律师马特·米勒表示，涉事学校包括福克斯克罗夫特学院、林肯学院与桑顿学院，各方当时正与州教育部协商达成协议，州教育部却“单方面发布紧急规则，违反缅因州法律”。根据上月向肯尼贝克县高等法院提交的诉状，该规则修改了有关学区外特殊教育学生安置的两项法律条款。诉状还指出，缅因州普遍存在残疾学生私立安置名额短缺的问题，尤其是需求复杂或行为困难的学生。诉讼同时质疑州教育部制定新规则的程序，指控其未提供充分的公开听证通知，以“逃避公众监督”。诉讼请求法院宣布该紧急规则无效。州教育部尚未回应置评请求。
Maine: Seven Private Schools Sue State Education Department, Say Emergency Special Education Rule Illegally Restricts Safety Assessments
Seven private schools in Maine have filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Education, accusing the department of issuing an emergency special education rule that is unlawful and limits schools' ability to conduct safety assessments. The plaintiff is the Maine Association of Independent Schools, representing seven schools and Spurwink Services. The complaint says the emergency rule issued by the Department of Education eliminated the process by which independent schools conduct individualized safety assessments for students exhibiting dangerous behavior, forcing the schools to go to court to protect the safety of students, teachers, and staff. Attorney Matt Miller said the schools involved include Foxcroft Academy, Lincoln Academy, and Thornton Academy, and that the parties were negotiating an agreement with the Department of Education when the department "unilaterally issued the emergency rule, in violation of Maine law." According to the complaint filed last month in Kennebec County Superior Court, the rule modified two statutory provisions concerning out-of-district placements of special education students. The complaint also notes a widespread shortage in Maine of private placement spots for students with disabilities, especially students with complex needs or difficult behaviors. The lawsuit also challenges the department's procedure for adopting the new rule, accusing it of failing to provide adequate public hearing notice in order to "evade public scrutiny." The lawsuit asks the court to declare the emergency rule invalid. The Department of Education has not yet responded to a request for comment.
来源：肯尼贝克县高等法院诉状
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：缅因州议会大厦（w_lemay 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 2.0）/ Maine State House, Augusta (photo by w_lemay, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)
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