TWIN LEGISLATION BILL FOR INDIANA

To: Indiana State Senators and Representatives



We, the undersigned, petition Indiana State Senators and Representatives to pass legislation in the state of Indiana similar to that of Minnesota's "Twin Bill". Sponsored by Minnesota Senator Dennis Frederickson and signed into law by Governor Tim Pawlenty on May 5, 2005, this Bill gives parents/guardians of multiple birth children the ability to decide whether to separate their children into different classrooms or to keep them together. Recently, The State of Illinois and the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed resolutions that also recommend school districts take into account parents requests. We believe that arbitrarily separating all twins and higher order multiples based solely upon their multiplicity and the past practices of The Department of Education is discriminatory and therefore unacceptable. Multiplicity is a birthright and the decision to separate or keep the children together within the classroom should be made on a case-by-case basis, based upon the childrens individual needs.

Renowned twins researchers Dr. Nancy Segal, Dr. John Mascazine and the International Society for Twin Studies as well as support groups like the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs Inc. all advocate a flexible classroom placement policy. We also believe that parents/guardians of multiples should have the primary voice in any classroom placement decision made for their children, as they know best their individual psychological, emotional and social needs. With the increase of multiple birth children continuing to rise, this is an issue that will only gain more exposure and validity. We ask that Indiana introduce and pass legislation to reflect these parental rights and be among these early states in protecting equality for multiple birth children and their parents.