Moira Ryan

My name is Moira Ryan and I am writing to oppose HB121. There have been similar bills like this introduced in past legislation years, most with the goal of paying the Parent Information Center to establish such committees. While well-intentioned, the history of these established committees is overwhelmingly negative because schools load these committees with school employees. they overwhelmingly portray the school viewpoint, which is contradictory to parents and their children. By controlling the narrative, the school districts make it seem like their very responsive and doing a great job when the proficiency scores tell a different story. Less than 4% of students on IEPs will receive any meaningful post-secondary opportunities. The vast majority will not become self sufficient or independent despite the fact that over 94% have normative IQs. Many of these committees bully parents, don't allow them to express their viewpoints, and ultimately force them to leave the group if they don't merely heap praise up the school and its employees. Many parents who stated that they were writing in favor of this bill ALREADY ADMITTED that these committees are skewed and INEFFECTIVE. The hope perpetuated by these parents is that if this law passes, the state will intervene and course correct these committees. I ask, who in the state will intervene? The state is failing to intervene on crucial issues like failure to provide services. They're absolutely not going to course correct on SEPACs which would fall under local control. No one in the DOE will modify them and no RSA requires them to do so. I don't want the taxpayers to fund an inefficient committee which would largely undermine taxpayers who want their kids to get an education and become independent post-school. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Moira Ryan