The Florida Department of Education is making changes to the parameters that allow students with intellectual disabilities to receive an appropriate education in the Access Points program that meets their needs.  Access Points are the standards by which students with intellectual disabilities access the curriculum in a way that allows for differentiation and accommodations that assist them in their learning.

The changes the school board is making will impact students with an IQ higher than 67 to their detriment. This cannot be allowed to happen.

In the short run, it will negatively impact high school students already being provided services in the Access Points program. The changes will remove them from the program and throw them into general education while simultaneously invalidating all core class credits and forcing them to essentially start high school completely over regardless of what year they are in, in their education.

In the long run, it severely limits which students can access this program, potentially hindering many students' educations. This is entirely unfair and punishes students who have been in the Access Points program for years, or need the program but don't meet the new parameters. Especially since they are not being given any choices in regards to their own educations.

Please sign the petition to get the FLDOE to reconsider these changes, or at least implement them in a less detrimental way so that our most vulnerable students will be helped and continue to get an appropriate education.