Fw: Broward Need for Response

[Guest guest]

----- Forwarded Message ----To: deniseslist@...Sent: Fri, January 8, 2010 8:48:25 AMSubject: Broward Need for Response

Hello all,

At times it is necessary have a unified response regarding the education of our children..

Many of you have seen the article the other day from the Wall Street Journal that documented some issues related to the stimulus dollars that were intended for special education. They were IDEA funds. IDEA is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. There is a provision from the federal government that allows school districts to utilize those dollars outside of ESE. Considering that those dollars were intended for ESE; our population continues to increase even though the overall population of Broward County students is decreasing; needs of the students continues to grow; needs are left unmet at times due to a taxed system of more kids than the current budget allows; etc, etc…. our students should come first when considering how to best utilize the stimulus dollars.

According to the article:

The budget for Broward County 's Exceptional Student Education program grew to $503.7 million this school year, $50 million of which comes from the extra stimulus funding for special-needs students. That makes current-year levels 10% higher than a year ago.

With a 10% increase, we should see improvements across the board in special education.

It is my belief that ESE dollars should be used for ESE students and if other students can benefit from those supports that are intended for our kids, then great…. Not the other way around as the article stated.

Some of the areas of need are:

· Years ago the ACE committee fought for a District level Certified Behavior Analyst position. That position sits today unfilled.. Considering the impact of behavior on a child with autism on their overall growth and education, this is a vital area of need.

· Autism specific area office specialists have decreased over the last few years, making it more difficult to obtain assistance for the schools when needed.

· Sensory needs are difficult to meet because sensory rooms are not in place or have been removed where they once existed.

· Classroom aids/assistants for kids with high functioning autism so that they can remain in their “least restrictive environment†are difficult to come by.

· Our middle schools are in serious need for kids with autism. The need for aids, social skills groups, on site autism supports, behavioral supports, classrooms set up to meet their behavioral needs while still allowing for grade level curriculum, etc

· High school programs that support preparedness for all students, from the kids who need the intensive services of an SVE room to those kids who are in the general population. High school kids who are in gen ed oftentimes are so consumed with the rigor of the course requirements that social skills and independent functioning skills are left to the wayside. 18-22 years old kids at the other end of the spectrum in the SVE classes should all be receiving Community Based Instruction for vocational skills across the board. There are many schools doing a fine job with this, but we still need

to grow across the district.

· Preschool programs exist that have no playgrounds because the playground equipment at some of the elementary schools are not approved for children younger than 5.

· Along with our overall population growth, the center schools continue to grow as well. These schools hold some of our most complex students. Innovative and creative ideas for these children and young adults should be encouraged and not met with budgetary constraints.

Please take a moment and think about the needs of your child. Think about what you believe an educational program would look like for him or her that would prepare them for the coming years in school, as well as the years after graduation. Write to your school board representative and superintendent and share with them how important it is to remember that if it were not for the ESE students, there would have been no IDEA stimulus dollars. Remember to be courteous and respectful in your letter or phone call. We want to have our School Board understand our concerns and know that we want to work together for the needs of all.

To find out who your school board representative is go to Browardschools.com Here are their email addresses.

mdinnen@..., jennifer.gottlieb@..., rbartleman@..., phyllis.hope@..., skraft@..., ann.murray@..., marcia.simmons@..., ruth.lutz@...

ktynan@...

james.notter@...

Thank you for taking your time to advocate for children with special needs.

Regards,

Stacey Hoaglund

[Guest guest]

http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/01/school-district-will-benefit.shtmlYes, these funds were given in addition to current/regular district budget. The money can greatly help our children with such items listed below as well as ESY, Assistive Technology Devices, Training for teachers and staff in proven methods, multi-sensory reading programs to improve comprehension, behavior training using the science of ABA, Contact your School Board Representative, they are there to represent your area and they need your VOTE! Subject: Fw: Broward Need for ResponseTo: "" <deniseslist >Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 5:20 PM

----- Forwarded Message ----From: "shhoaglund@ aol.com" <shhoaglundaol (DOT) com>To: deniseslist@ yahoo.comSent: Fri, January 8, 2010 8:48:25 AMSubject: Broward Need for Response

Hello all,

At times it is necessary have a unified response regarding the education of our children..

Many of you have seen the article the other day from the Wall Street Journal that documented some issues related to the stimulus dollars that were intended for special education. They were IDEA funds. IDEA is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. There is a provision from the federal government that allows school districts to utilize those dollars outside of ESE. Considering that those dollars were intended for ESE; our population continues to increase even though the overall population of Broward County students is decreasing; needs of the students continues to grow; needs are left unmet at times due to a taxed system of more kids than the current budget allows; etc, etc…. our students should come first when considering how to best utilize the stimulus dollars.

According to the article:

The budget for Broward County 's Exceptional Student Education program grew to $503.7 million this school year, $50 million of which comes from the extra stimulus funding for special-needs students. That makes current-year levels 10% higher than a year ago.

With a 10% increase, we should see improvements across the board in special education.

It is my belief that ESE dollars should be used for ESE students and if other students can benefit from those supports that are intended for our kids, then great…. Not the other way around as the article stated.

Some of the areas of need are:

· Years ago the ACE committee fought for a District level Certified Behavior Analyst position. That position sits today unfilled.. Considering the impact of behavior on a child with autism on their overall growth and education, this is a vital area of need.

· Autism specific area office specialists have decreased over the last few years, making it more difficult to obtain assistance for the schools when needed.

· Sensory needs are difficult to meet because sensory rooms are not in place or have been removed where they once existed.

· Classroom aids/assistants for kids with high functioning autism so that they can remain in their “least restrictive environment†are difficult to come by.

· Our middle schools are in serious need for kids with autism. The need for aids, social skills groups, on site autism supports, behavioral supports, classrooms set up to meet their behavioral needs while still allowing for grade level curriculum, etc

· High school programs that support preparedness for all students, from the kids who need the intensive services of an SVE room to those kids who are in the general population. High school kids who are in gen ed oftentimes are so consumed with the rigor of the course requirements that social skills and independent functioning skills are left to the wayside. 18-22 years old kids at the other end of the spectrum in the SVE classes should all be receiving

Community Based Instruction for vocational skills across the board. There are many schools doing a fine job with this, but we still need

to grow across the district.

· Preschool programs exist that have no playgrounds because the playground equipment at some of the elementary schools are not approved for children younger than 5.

· Along with our overall population growth, the center schools continue to grow as well. These schools hold some of our most complex students. Innovative and creative ideas for these children and young adults should be encouraged and not met with budgetary constraints.

Please take a moment and think about the needs of your child. Think about what you believe an educational program would look like for him or her that would prepare them for the coming years in school, as well as the years after graduation. Write to your school board representative and superintendent and share with them how important it is to remember that if it were not for the ESE students, there would have been no IDEA stimulus dollars. Remember to be courteous and respectful in your letter or phone call. We want to have our School Board understand our concerns and know that we want to work together for the needs of all.

To find out who your school board representative is go to Browardschools. com Here are their email addresses.

mdinnen@browardscho ols.com, jennifer.gottlieb@ browardschools. com, rbartleman@browards chools.com, phyllis.hope@ browardschools. com, skraft@browardschoo ls.com, ann.murray@browards chools.com, marcia.simmons@ browardschools. com, ruth.lutz@browardsc hools.com

ktynan@browardschoo ls.com

james.notter@ browardschools. .com

Thank you for taking your time to advocate for children with special needs.

Regards,

Stacey Hoaglund

[Guest guest]

http://edlabor.house.gov/blog/2009/01/school-district-will-benefit.shtmlYes, these funds were given in addition to current/regular district budget. The money can greatly help our children with such items listed below as well as ESY, Assistive Technology Devices, Training for teachers and staff in proven methods, multi-sensory reading programs to improve comprehension, behavior training using the science of ABA, Contact your School Board Representative, they are there to represent your area and they need your VOTE! Subject: Fw: Broward Need for ResponseTo: "" <deniseslist >Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 5:20 PM

----- Forwarded Message ----From: "shhoaglund@ aol.com" <shhoaglundaol (DOT) com>To: deniseslist@ yahoo.comSent: Fri, January 8, 2010 8:48:25 AMSubject: Broward Need for Response

Hello all,

At times it is necessary have a unified response regarding the education of our children..

Many of you have seen the article the other day from the Wall Street Journal that documented some issues related to the stimulus dollars that were intended for special education. They were IDEA funds. IDEA is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. There is a provision from the federal government that allows school districts to utilize those dollars outside of ESE. Considering that those dollars were intended for ESE; our population continues to increase even though the overall population of Broward County students is decreasing; needs of the students continues to grow; needs are left unmet at times due to a taxed system of more kids than the current budget allows; etc, etc…. our students should come first when considering how to best utilize the stimulus dollars.

According to the article:

The budget for Broward County 's Exceptional Student Education program grew to $503.7 million this school year, $50 million of which comes from the extra stimulus funding for special-needs students. That makes current-year levels 10% higher than a year ago.

With a 10% increase, we should see improvements across the board in special education.

It is my belief that ESE dollars should be used for ESE students and if other students can benefit from those supports that are intended for our kids, then great…. Not the other way around as the article stated.

Some of the areas of need are:

· Years ago the ACE committee fought for a District level Certified Behavior Analyst position. That position sits today unfilled.. Considering the impact of behavior on a child with autism on their overall growth and education, this is a vital area of need.

· Autism specific area office specialists have decreased over the last few years, making it more difficult to obtain assistance for the schools when needed.

· Sensory needs are difficult to meet because sensory rooms are not in place or have been removed where they once existed.

· Classroom aids/assistants for kids with high functioning autism so that they can remain in their “least restrictive environment†are difficult to come by.

· Our middle schools are in serious need for kids with autism. The need for aids, social skills groups, on site autism supports, behavioral supports, classrooms set up to meet their behavioral needs while still allowing for grade level curriculum, etc

· High school programs that support preparedness for all students, from the kids who need the intensive services of an SVE room to those kids who are in the general population. High school kids who are in gen ed oftentimes are so consumed with the rigor of the course requirements that social skills and independent functioning skills are left to the wayside. 18-22 years old kids at the other end of the spectrum in the SVE classes should all be receiving

Community Based Instruction for vocational skills across the board. There are many schools doing a fine job with this, but we still need

to grow across the district.

· Preschool programs exist that have no playgrounds because the playground equipment at some of the elementary schools are not approved for children younger than 5.

· Along with our overall population growth, the center schools continue to grow as well. These schools hold some of our most complex students. Innovative and creative ideas for these children and young adults should be encouraged and not met with budgetary constraints.

Please take a moment and think about the needs of your child. Think about what you believe an educational program would look like for him or her that would prepare them for the coming years in school, as well as the years after graduation. Write to your school board representative and superintendent and share with them how important it is to remember that if it were not for the ESE students, there would have been no IDEA stimulus dollars. Remember to be courteous and respectful in your letter or phone call. We want to have our School Board understand our concerns and know that we want to work together for the needs of all.

To find out who your school board representative is go to Browardschools. com Here are their email addresses.

mdinnen@browardscho ols.com, jennifer.gottlieb@ browardschools. com, rbartleman@browards chools.com, phyllis.hope@ browardschools. com, skraft@browardschoo ls.com, ann.murray@browards chools.com, marcia.simmons@ browardschools. com, ruth.lutz@browardsc hools.com

ktynan@browardschoo ls.com

james.notter@ browardschools. .com

Thank you for taking your time to advocate for children with special needs.

Regards,

Stacey Hoaglund