I'm curious - percentage of students with IEP/504/etc

[LuvsDragonflies]

Plus, "IEP Families" don't necessarily have only IEP children. I have one with and IEP and one solid average. I don't see her suffering any lack of education. If I did, I would be right up there for her as well as for my other daughter.

 

[DizBelle]

So, what's your thoughts towards a solution? I can guarantee that every child that needs services is not getting them, I can guarantee that every child that gets services is not getting 100% of their needs met, and I can certainly guarantee that every middle of the road child is only getting 50% of their needs met. If you talk to most parents, most believe that their children are getting what they need from their school...at least all of the people I've talked to in our district. My DH is the cubmaster for our school, so I have the pleasure of having LOTS of discussions re. the school and it's performance.

I have one child with an IEP (and he's certainly a low-needs child when you look at the SPED range) and one middle to upper performing child. I don't feel as if my "normal" child is getting the shaft at all. From what I've seen in the schools is that due to budget cuts, our teachers are under much more stress than they ever have been, partially due to demands by the SPED programs, but mostly due to budget restraints that ups the size of their classroom and cuts the amount of resources available to them.

Where are those budget restraints coming from? Why are they there? Is there less money overall? Or is there pretty much the same amount of money and it has to be distributed differently than in the past?

 

[princessmom29]

Unfortunately, I think the bigger problem is how they spend the money they do get rather than the amount of money they get. I would hazard to guess that people (taxpayers) would be less likely to vote to give more money until they feel that the money they arleady give is spent responsibly.

School districts don't need to be spending $1.5 million on a new press box for the football field when they are cutting teachers or unable to buy textbooks.

In some systems that is ture, but the perception of that is largely fuled by the fed and thier insane restrictions on how school systems can use money. Forinsatance, part of the "stimulus" plan was used for education. All of the money many systems got was given with extreme conditions however. We built 2 new schools becuase the money was to be spent on new construction only. We couldn't use it for what we really needed, funding for new teacher units and special services. There are certianly some districts mismanaging money, but there are some truly in need and not being funded as well.

 

[ReneeA]

Unfortunately, I think the bigger problem is how they spend the money they do get rather than the amount of money they get. I would hazard to guess that people (taxpayers) would be less likely to vote to give more money until they feel that the money they arleady give is spent responsibly.

School districts don't need to be spending $1.5 million on a new press box for the football field when they are cutting teachers or unable to buy textbooks.

Many times, money spent on sports fields and extracurriculars is fundraising money by sports booster groups. I was raised in a very impoverished school district - think 96% of students qualified for free lunches through the state. We had a great football team, and very active sports boosters. It took them almost 20 years to raise the money, but in the end they were able to come up with enough money to redo our field - to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Could the school have used that much money for books? I'm sure they could have...but that money and much of the labor was donated with a purpose in mind.

I also hear parents complaining about updating the school district I live in now, and money that is being spent on construction should be going toward hiring teachers and buying supplies. That money is through special millages on the taxes. The taxpayers vote on a specific hike for a specific time, with the money being earmarked for projects. Use that money for something other than what was voted on and they are breaking the law.

People will ALWAYS find something to complain about, but rarely follow up on their gripes with any sort of action. Take your issues up with your school board, principal, teachers, etc.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

The "states" don't have any money to hire more teachers/aides, etc. There is no more money for textbooks and other resources that enrich learning. Thank to our governor, our education system has been gutted.

So what happens now?

We start doing what we should have done years ago. Trim the fat.

Pay to play sports, clubs, etc.
Less assistant coaches.
Cut the "spanish" classes from Elementary schools
Freeze pay rates for teachers/staff/admin.
Freeze pay rates for Civil Service and Town/City officials and staff

That's just a start. It's not impossible, it just sticks in everyone's craw. Our school budget was passed this year, apparently they are making it work with less, after years of being told to do it, they finally did.

Eveyone wants to blame the bad guy Governor, but he's only doing what should have been done years ago. It was going to happen sooner or later. The schools need to tighten the belt like everyone else.

Anyone have a child graduate from elementary school actually speaking Spanish because of what they've learned there? I've never met one.

 

[ReneeA]

Where are those budget restraints coming from? Why are they there? Is there less money overall? Or is there pretty much the same amount of money and it has to be distributed differently than in the past?

There is less money. Our economy is tanking, and there is less money to go around. I live in Michigan, and we are in a huge deficit...much like most other states of the union right now. Our per child funding for the schools is being cut by 1/4 this year - hundreds of dollars per child. I know I started hearing rumblings of people being unhappy about 6 years ago...right about the time the economy took a dive.

 

[SaraJayne]

We start doing what we should have done years ago. Trim the fat.

Pay to play sports, clubs, etc.
Less assistant coaches.
Cut the "spanish" classes from Elementary schools
Freeze pay rates for teachers/staff/admin.
Freeze pay rates for Civil Service and Town/City officials and staff

That's just a start. It's not impossible, it just sticks in everyone's craw. Our school budget was passed this year, apparently they are making it work with less, after years of being told to do it, they finally did.

Eveyone wants to blame the bad guy Governor, but he's only doing what should have been done years ago. It was going to happen sooner or later. The schools need to tighten the belt like everyone else.

Anyone have a child graduate from elementary school actually speaking Spanish because of what they've learned there? I've never met one.

We already have pay to play.

Assistant coaches are volunteers.

No Spanish classes in Elementary.

I live in WI. Remember all that hullabaloo in Feb about what our Governor did to teacher salaries/benefits here? Yeah.

Our city/town staff haven't had a raise in 5 years or more...there is no money.

So yeah, there isn't any more "fat to trim". The last couple years, it has really impacted our educational system. And I don't see it getting one bit better any time soon.

 

[DizBelle]

There is less money. Our economy is tanking, and there is less money to go around. I live in Michigan, and we are in a huge deficit...much like most other states of the union right now. Our per child funding for the schools is being cut by 1/4 this year - hundreds of dollars per child. I know I started hearing rumblings of people being unhappy about 6 years ago...right about the time the economy took a dive.

Then it sounds like some sacrifices may need to be made. This might include the IEP students as well.

In general, when this kind of budget cutting happens, is the IEP budget cut as well or are the cuts focused elsewhere?

 

[Magic Mom]

Plus, "IEP Families" don't necessarily have only IEP children. I have one with and IEP and one solid average. I don't see her suffering any lack of education. If I did, I would be right up there for her as well as for my other daughter.

I was in the unique position of working in my child's class for a few years. What I saw was upsetting. She and many others were not getting what they needed. I really won't elaborate with details, because I can't explain details that have to do with other children. Her teacher was wonderful and DD was moving forward, but behind what she was capable of. When I expressed concern to the school, I was gently told that not all kids were straight A kids and she was doing just fine for her level.When I pressed, i was told she was not eligible for extra services, but if I wanted she could attend 1 hour a week of group tutoring after school. Instead I payed out of pocket.

Thank God I didn't listen to their evaluation of her, because now she is in honors language art, science and advanced math in middle school. What about the other kids in her class that were floundering? Their parents weren't there; they couldn't see that their mediocre grades were being accepted because there just weren't any resources left to advance them. It's sad.

 

[SaraJayne]

Then it sounds like some sacrifices may need to be made. This might include the IEP students as well.

In general, when this kind of budget cutting happens, is the IEP budget cut as well or are the cuts focused elsewhere?

SpED is the very LAST thing to have budget cuts in our district. Cuts are always focused elsewhere.

 

[ReneeA]

Then it sounds like some sacrifices may need to be made. This might include the IEP students as well.

In general, when this kind of budget cutting happens, is the IEP budget cut as well or are the cuts focused elsewhere?

How do you know that SPED students haven't had to sacrifice as well? In our school alone:

All of the 1:1 aides were let go and students that needed one were mainstreamed. Those that have difficulty during the day are sent to the resource room for "special tutoring". There is normally 10-15 students at any time of the day with one teacher.

We have gone from sharing 1 speech therapist between 2 schools to only having one speech therapist for 5 schools. There used to be 1 Occupational therapist assistant and one Physical therapy assistant for our school district, and now there is only 2 of each available for the entire county (2nd most populist county in the state of MI), we have cut out all bussing from the district - used to be that SPED students were able to get special busses if need be, my understanding is that also has been cut as of this year.

Off the top of my head, these are cuts I know the SPED program has made. I'm sure there are more. Unless you are involved, it's not something you would be entirely aware of.

 

[ReneeA]

SpED is the very LAST thing to have budget cuts in our district. Cuts are always focused elsewhere.

How do you know that? People like to claim things like that, but aren't aware of what cuts are being made everywhere...only what affects them personally.

 

[princessmom29]

We start doing what we should have done years ago. Trim the fat.

Pay to play sports, clubs, etc.
Less assistant coaches.
Cut the "spanish" classes from Elementary schools
Freeze pay rates for teachers/staff/admin.
Freeze pay rates for Civil Service and Town/City officials and staff

That's just a start. It's not impossible, it just sticks in everyone's craw. Our school budget was passed this year, apparently they are making it work with less, after years of being told to do it, they finally did.

Eveyone wants to blame the bad guy Governor, but he's only doing what should have been done years ago. It was going to happen sooner or later. The schools need to tighten the belt like everyone else.

Anyone have a child graduate from elementary school actually speaking Spanish because of what they've learned there? I've never met one.

all of this has been in place for at least 5 years , plus more. There is NO funding for arts of extra-curric. any more. There is NO funding for classroom supplies, paper pencils, ect. We only have technology money because it is federal and required to be spent that way, so we have computers and smartboards, but no paper. pencils, or books and no funding for aides. It makes no sense.

 

[princessmom29]

How do you know that? People like to claim things like that, but aren't aware of what cuts are being made everywhere...only what affects them personally.

The school system buget is a public document. all you have to do is compare year to year.

 

[ReneeA]

The school system buget is a public document. all you have to do is compare year to year.

I know.

How many on here (honestly) have read and compared year to year?

 

[luvmythree]

You are unfairly getting a beating on this thread and you have handled yourself very maturely. Good for you for not attacking back.

I agree!!!!!It's threads like this that make me so glad I decided to get OUT of education last year and into another field. It was a no win situation and I was tired of beating my head against the wall with students, parents and administrators.

 

[princessmom29]

I know.

How many on here (honestly) have read and compared year to year?

I have, because it concerns me directly and i can tell you that SPED has not taken as much of a cut as other areas.

 

[SaraJayne]

How do you know that? People like to claim things like that, but aren't aware of what cuts are being made everywhere...only what affects them personally.

Our budgets are public knowledge. Aren't everyone's?

 

[DizBelle]

How do you know that SPED students haven't had to sacrifice as well? In our school alone:

All of the 1:1 aides were let go and students that needed one were mainstreamed. Those that have difficulty during the day are sent to the resource room for "special tutoring". There is normally 10-15 students at any time of the day with one teacher.

We have gone from sharing 1 speech therapist between 2 schools to only having one speech therapist for 5 schools. There used to be 1 Occupational therapist assistant and one Physical therapy assistant for our school district, and now there is only 2 of each available for the entire county (2nd most populist county in the state of MI), we have cut out all bussing from the district - used to be that SPED students were able to get special busses if need be, my understanding is that also has been cut as of this year.

Off the top of my head, these are cuts I know the SPED program has made. I'm sure there are more. Unless you are involved, it's not something you would be entirely aware of.

I don't know. This is why I ask. But, apparently asking these questions to become better educated about the subject is a bad thing . How else am I supposed to find out if I don't ask the question?

I'm assuming that all of you who have fussed at me for asking the questions tell your children not to ask questions at school since asking questions is a bad thing.

FTR - I can't tell if this poster was fussing at me for asking the question but I have felt fussed out throughout this thread for asking questions.

 

[ReneeA]

Our budgets are public knowledge. Aren't everyone's?

Yes. Most people like to gripe and whine without researching. We see it all of the time on the DIS.