Megan Jackson, a parent, told the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education on Aug. 18 that district staff have blocked parents from recording Individualized Education Program meetings and that the practice violates federal law. "Denying the right to record an IEP meeting, a simple, reasonable accommodation, is a direct violation of IDEA's procedural safeguards," Jackson said.
Jackson told the board the district told parents on June 12 that it would not allow a planned recording unless it had "unanimous consent" from all participants and cited the Illinois eavesdropping statute. She said a representative from the Illinois State Board of Education later told her that the district's interpretation was incorrect and that the state statute does not govern federally protected IEP meetings.
The parent described a June 16 IEP meeting in which she said staff pressured attendees to stop recording and later provided an "alleged reporting policy" that required medical documentation and a five-day advance request. "This policy, 1, was never shared with us before July 15. 2, was never mentioned in the June 16 IEP meeting itself, 3, has never been approved by this board, and 4, has no basis in IDEA or Illinois law," Jackson said.
Jackson asked the board to direct district leadership to "immediately cease all interference with lawful IEP recordings and to develop and publicly approve a compliant policy without delay." She also warned that, if the board does not act, she will file a complaint with the Illinois State Board of Education.
The comments were made during the meeting's public comment period. No board action on recordings was taken during the Aug. 18 meeting.