Major Increase in Special Education Funding

Sheila

Moderator
This is an excerpt from Wright's Law's latest newsletter.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bill Provides Major Increase in Special Education Funding[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Overall, the bill will provide a major increase in special education funding, including $12.2 billion for IDEA. This includes $11.2 billion for Part B, $400 million for IDEA preschool funding, and $500 million for Part C. These funds are in addition to the regular Part B and Part C allocations.[/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]IDEA has long been woefully underfunded and we have all seen the effects of this. Children are not identified for special education, or when identified, receive inadequate services and assistance. While many school districts strive to provide good special education programs, we must ensure that all children with disabilities receive appropriate educations that prepare them for independent living.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As we have seen in our communities, many families are experiencing severe economic stress, job loss, reduced hours, and cuts in their businesses and retirement funds. This includes parents of children with disabilities who face constraints in the services they can provide for their children.
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Children with disabilities are a very vulnerable population. Before this recession, many children lived in families who facing financial stress. Before the recession, approximately 2/3 of children with disabilities lived in families that earned under $50,000 a year. Approximately 35% of children lived in families earning less than $25,000 a year.[/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Children with disabilities need appropriate educations and services if they are to meet the purpose of IDEA. The stimulus bill provided additional IDEA funds to meet the needs of children with disabilities. Just as adults with disabilities are vulnerable populations who need additional funding, children with disabilities are vulnerable too.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For these reasons, it was essential that Congress delineated these funds to benefit children with disabilities - not simply as additional block funding for school districts or block funding for school district job creation/preservation.
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I think Congress recognized that the families of children with disabilities are facing job losses and severe economic burdens. They acted to protect those children and their needs by providing additional IDEA funding. This funding includes providing appropriate special education and related services, equipment, assistive technology, training for teachers, access to nurses, etc.[/FONT]​

There's more good info on the newsletter
 

Martie

Moderator
Thanks for posting. I have been hopeful that this would go through uncut. It will make a big difference for our kids if it does.

Martie
 
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