Schmeck said:
Actually, there is wording in the IDEA that states that a state/county can have the right to limit costs - because MA has Prop 2 1/2, they can use that as a limiting agent.
I went to the Mass DOE SE website, but got distracted by the downloadable documents about cases in litigation/discussion, etc. I have better access at school tomorrow, but it depends on how much time I have to be on the computer.
Federal law states that a child get a Free and Appropriate Education - which is left up to others to decide what is appropriate. If a parent demands a child be schooled out of state, in a private boarding school that doesn't accept state funding, but the school district states that it can supply the same services at its school, the school has the advantage because it can provide an appropriate education. Appropriate (in MA anyways) means an IEP is created and the services given in the IEP are met. That's about it.
In that case then of course the school has a valid reason to deny a out-of-state placement. But if the school doens't have an appropriate program, then "cost" isn't an excuse. They MUST either begin a program to meet the childs needs, or find a suitable one. If the school self-contains all nine year old IEP kids requiring a self-contained placement into one self-contained room, lumping ASD, visually impaired, OOD, and low functioning mentally retarded, parents are going to SCREAM! It's not a suitable placement for any of them, even if the IEP states "self-contained room."
If on the other hand they put the children working on a 5th grade level who are ADHD, ODD, and Bi-Polar into one room, it's *probably* acceptable for most of those kids, as academically they are about in the same place--at least with most subjects (gym, art, music, plus probably history and science for example) and the structure, discipline, etc. are going to be the same for most if not all of those children. (Some ASD kids might also fit in well in that room.)
I'm not saying this is the way it should be, or if this best serves our children, but this is how it's done in my state. I know my town has been known as one of the best sped services towns in the area, but then many families moved here specifically for our strong sped services and the financial burden caused us to be more stingy on IEPs. Now we're about average in services.
That's a shame, actually. That's a good argument for changing the way some states fund education...
It's become a lot harder to get an IEP loaded with out-of-classroom services such as OT, PT, ST, etc.
But those services MUST be provided if the child needs them, regardless of available funds. The district MUST come up with funding for services like those or they will be in violation of IDEA and Title IV.
Rising Sped costs have caused the school system to cut the elementary school Spanish classes, students are charged $$$ for riding the school buses (varies with grade/distance) History textbooks have the first Bush as president...
I'm not sure what your point is. Spanish isn't required in elementary school--in fact it's actually a fairly new thing in most schools. Parents have the option of driving students, or they could walk--walking would probably do a lot of todays youth some good. I can't recall ever having completely up-to-date texts in school. Teachers can supplement with handouts and current events.
Are the Sped students to blame? Definitely not! But there is rising resentment in my town about the costs, property taxes are going up, class sizes are increasing every year, and some people can't afford to live here anymore.
I pay $11,000 a year in property taxes and don't have a kid in school.
It is NOT jsut SPED that's causing costs to skyrocket. Insurance, teachers and administration salaries (in some areas), redundant clerical positions, legal bills stemming from parents suing because Mary jumped off teh swing and broke her arm...
I don't know the solution, and it really worries me when I hear what townspeople say at budget meetings that deal with the Special Education portion of the school budget.
Schools need to work together with neighboring districts to come up with non-redundant programs to help cut SPED costs. They need to ustilize teh funds they have more wisely. I saw the district we lived in in NJ SQUANDER SPED funds--something several teachers and administrators admitted to, but when asked why they didn't do soemthing about it, the response was always the same. "We don't know where to start" or "That's the way it's always been."
Anne
They say that he does not need one. I asked for a team meeting and told the guidance counciler that I expect one. I am gearing up for battle. The guidance conciler said that he behaves nicely when she is in the classroom. I asked if you need to have bad behavior to get services. She said No. She then asked if I could put him back on the meds he was on last year. I told her that meds only work for a month or two and that I was sick of pumping meds. into him. I told her it was their turn and I expect help. I voulenteer all the time at the school. I have taken my son off the bus, put him on meds. and take him for any therapies that we can afford. It is their turn. I am tired of doing this alone. My son is in the grey zone. It is a place where help is hard to find.
What do you mean they dont provide them at all??? What if a child NEEDS it? It's not like walking into a store and asking "do you sell lime green shirts?" and the store saying "nope we dont" and you moving on to the next store... The education system doesn't provide that option.
