Special Education, Budgets and Quality Education

Kathleen Rhodes of the Evansville Examiner reported on May 3, 2011 on a trend for America’s special education programs to be hit hard by budget shortfalls (http://www.examiner.com/evansville).  She refers to a study of The Council of Exceptional Children.  The effects are being seen in Indiana, and now cuts in personnel are contributing to higher and [...]

Special Education Budget Reductions: A Case Example

Johnny J. Burnham, writing for the Thomaston Express (CT), reported on budget cuts made by the Thomaston Board of Education (March 3, 2011).  The reductions included “…one full-time and two part-time custodians, a 10-month secretary, a full-time special education paraprofessional and a special education teacher, according to Thomaston Superintendent Lynda Mitchell.” A collaborative  learning program to [...]

Special Education Parents Advocate on 2011 School Budget Cuts

In this spring of 2011 schools across the U. S. are holding critical budget meetings to cut expenses, according to trends seen in widespread newspaper reports.  Parents are now advocating for retaining funds for special education, while special educators pose questions about sustaining IEP commitments.  We reported on Rosa’s Law, just one example of how [...]

Special Education Budget Cuts of 2011

A cursory survey of current press reports in February of 2011 reveals an increasing number of reports indicating local schools are cutting special education funds to meet their budget obligations.   The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided emergency funds to schools nationally to retain positions in special education, but those funds are running out.  [...]