Trump triumph Businessman finishes amazing climb to become GOP nominee

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. speaks during the second day session of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Tuesday, July 19, 2016. (AP Photo/John Locher)

(Associated Press)

Senator Jeff Sessions' old remarks about disabled students are raising concerns from disability advocates who fear he will not enforce federal special education law if he becomes the next U.S. Attorney General.

Sessions said the federal special education law was too lenient and allowed "special treatment for certain children," which was resulting in the acceleration of "the decline in civility and discipline in classrooms all over America."

Sessions, citing complaints from education officials, urged lawmakers in 2000 to change the law "to say that a child is not allowed to commit crimes, to disrupt classroom, to curse teachers, principals and students, and abuse them and do so with impunity."

Those remarks were made on the Senate floor while Congress was considering reauthorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 16 years ago.

Disability advocates interpret Sessions' remarks as a desire to re-segregate children with disabilities into separate classrooms, a throwback to a time before disabled students were educated in a regular classroom alongside non-disabled peers.

James Gallini, an attorney specializing in special education law, said Sessions' remarks, which were compiled from complaints from teachers and administrators about students exhibiting emotional and behavioral disorders were "one-sided," and didn't consider a school's responsibility for providing services required under federal law.

"Much has changed since Senator Sessions made those remarks," attorney Nancy Anderson of the Alabama Disabilities and Advocacy Program said. "Given what we know now about brain science and best practices there are resources out there to support teachers and help students learn better behaviors. And providing appropriate services is required under federal law," she added.

The real question, Anderson said, is "do we have the will to provide the expertise and the resources to provide what these children need?"

Gallini said schools still show a preference for removing children with emotional and behavioral disabilities from the classroom rather than provide services such as Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports to help students succeed in school.

In a statement, the Alabama State Department of Education said there are circumstances where schools can remove students who are a danger to others from the classroom, but schools must continue providing special education services to those students.

In severe cases, after all options are exhausted, students can be placed in residential treatment centers away from their neighborhood schools, according to the statement.

The state department does provide some resources for schools, including annual training and access to certified behavior analysts.

It's still up to school officials to put those supports in place every day for students, Gallini said.

If schools don't provide appropriate special education services to students with behavioral disorders, those students will likely fall through the cracks, Anderson asked. "How is it good for society for schools to do nothing to help them?"

Senator Sessions refused a request for comment on his remarks.