Educating Arne and ARRA
Managing Editor's Note: Arne Duncan is Secretary of the US Dept. of Ed. Alison's post below indicates a need for better oversight of funds spent on education.
By Alison Davis
I'm waiting for my school system’s Board of Education meeting in October to find out how they are spending the American Recovery and Revitalization Act’s (ARRA) IDEA Part B Stimulus funds. Towards the end of last school year, Schafer Autism Report had an article on this that caught my eye. How much did your school system get? We got almost $8M. And I want to know where it’s going.
Guidelines to spending, transparency, and accountability appear muddled from every level of federal, state, and local Education agencies. It’s time for some- what I like to call- Little Red Hen Actions (“’Then I’ll do it myself’, Said the Little Red Hen. And she did.”).
Here are some questions you may want to ask your children’s Special Education Director:
1. How are we obtaining assistive technology devices (PDAs, Smartboards, alphasmarts, netbooks, etc.) and providing funding for training teachers in assistive technology to aid Special Education students?
2. How many Special Education teaching jobs are we saving? How many are we creating?
3. What new Special Education professional development will take place to improve:
- Early learning?
- Inclusion of Special Ed. students?
- Transitions, including preparation for college? (Are we hiring transition coordinators/coaches and job developers?)
- Training school staff to partner with families by supporting parent trainings, family nights, and home visits?
4. How are we spending these funds to introduce reliable data collection and assessments for students with disabilities?
5. What new evidence-based curriculums with instructional materials and imbedded assessments are we purchasing for Special Ed. students?
6. Are we using funds for extended learning time for Special Ed. students (after school/summer programs)?
7. How are we measuring the effectiveness of our use of the allotment?
Alison Davis lives in Durham, NC with her husband (thank God!) and her three boys with autism. She sincerely hopes that No Child Left Behind does not mean if it’s meant to be it’s up to me. Additionally, it’s her fervent wish that IDEIA no longer means if you don’t know your rights you don’t have any.
For Bensmyson- Yes. Unfortunately, I was interviewed for a reaction/support in an article regarding this at
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1607761.html
and the reporter did not include important comments from the interview. Also, I thought it was disconcerting to see some of the reader comments to this article online. There is a backlash rearing its ugly head against this epidemic of autism caused by environmental factors (read: VACCINES). Someone posted a comment inferring I was just knowingly having children with autism irresponsibly and willy-nilly! We had no idea when we had our 3 stair-step children. But I am so happy that they are here.
About the Stimulus dollars- federal guidelines state that parents should be included in the decision-making process of allocation. In this time of financial crisis, are you happy with Maintainance of Effort, or do you want to use this opportunity for Education Reform?
Posted by: Alison Davis | October 01, 2009 at 10:08 AM
Alison I hope you are familiar with the fight going on in Orange County involving the McWhirter family's legal fight to wrangle out of the school system a couple of hours of therapy for their 4 year old son. So far I believe the legal battle has cost the family over $200,000.
http://educatingowen.wordpress.com
Posted by: bensmyson | October 01, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Let's talk stimulus money. First let's go with the fantasy side of the equation. Special education along with title I programs are receiving stimulus money. There the fantasy ends. The Department of Education has issued instructions to allow school districts to apply for as many as seven waivers on this money. The effect of this is that a school district can apply for all seven waivers, which the Department of Education will grant, and effectively give zero dollars to special education. All special education gets out of the bargain is the bragging rights to say that special education money kept the school district afloat. Small consolation for services not received. Some school districts are using part of the money for special education but alas many districts don't consult with parents to find out where the greatest need is for special education in that school district.
Please pressure. Please complain. Please make a pain of yourself as you explain to your school district that the money should go to special education. Governments are very talented in giving the perception of help to all. The reality is all we have to do is give special education kids the basic civil rights that is guaranteed in our Constitution.
Posted by: stan goldberg | September 30, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Great article...
ITs no different here in NY - probably worse. I have asked my district and unless I elevate the question to higher authorities like law makers, they basically are not going to answer the questions. Very similar to CSE meetings - exactly how much noise you are willing to make will determine which answer you receive!
This is just one more example of the problem with government funding and no accountability.
Posted by: Mary Beth Palo | September 29, 2009 at 05:26 PM
Thank you for this reminder Alison. I live in Chapel Hill and need to ask these questions. My son's pre-k classroom got a smartboard last year- it's never used- teacher doesn't have a laptop (which is needed to operate it) and no training has been provided. These young kids really can't even use that type of technology. Makes no sense.
Posted by: Kristine L. | September 29, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Thank you Alison for being an advocate, on behalf of the whole district in addition to your boys. You are a Blessing to me and so many others!
Posted by: Beth Reynolds | September 29, 2009 at 01:25 PM
Here's the searchable PDF for ARRA with a state-by-state guide for IDEA funding starting on Page 16:
http://tinyurl.com/yh7oz3q
Posted by: Gatogorra | September 29, 2009 at 11:03 AM
"can we all click and paste this numbered list into en email for the special ed director and school board members?"
Absolutely, yes! That's why I wrote this.
Posted by: Alison Davis | September 29, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Check you school's Amount Here: http://edlabor.house.gov/selected-allocations-for-school-districts-under-the-american-recovery-and-reinvestment-bill/index.shtml
Posted by: Susanne Harris | September 29, 2009 at 10:19 AM
We did do our own checking and found out that our son's district got 3 million. We did additional digging and found out a large portion of this was spent on programs for the gifted and talented. Even found one case where an expensive smart board has been purchased for a science classroom, but they can possible do that because some of the EC children are mainstreamed into that classroom. How is that possible? Where are the checks and accountability on this? Parents need to be asking questions!!
Posted by: Mattie's Mom | September 29, 2009 at 09:39 AM
Thank you, can we all click and paste this numbered list into en email for the special ed director and school board members? Concise and to the point. Thank you.
Posted by: Bre | September 29, 2009 at 08:44 AM
GREAT questions, Alison! If you need help locally, let me know.
Posted by: Cathy Jameson | September 29, 2009 at 08:12 AM