Panel studys cost factors for education--focus on special education

Hi Everybody,

There is an Education Cost Sharing Task Force to study how education, including special education, is funded.  Here is a link to the task force website: www.cga.ct.gov/ed/CostSharing/taskforce.asp

The Connecticut Mirror, (http://www.ctmirror.org/), an online news source, has an excellent article about this task force.  The panel is looking at the cost of special education and the article below (also attached as a WORD document) does a very good job explaining it.

I am also attaching a 1 page PDF with the members of the task force and a 4 page PDF file, Education Cost Sharing Task Force Special Education Report.  This is a DRAFT and has not been adopted by the task force.  It includes 9 recommendations, including a change in the burden of proof.  It is a draft and has not been formally adopted.

Beth

Beth A. Leslie

Legislative and Regulations Specialist

Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities

60-B Weston Street

Hartford, CT 06120

Beth.Leslie@ct.gov

Office 860-297-4369

Cell 860-371-7614

Toll free voice/TTY 1-800-842-7303

Fax 860-566-8714

www.CT.gov/opapd

Published on The Connecticut Mirror (http://ctmirror.org)

Home > Panel looks to tackle skyrocketing special education costs

Panel looks to tackle skyrocketing special education costs

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

September 17, 2012

A state panel is considering recommending wealthy school districts and high-income parents with special needs children pay more to cover the skyrocketing price of special education.

One in eight Connecticut students -- more than 60,000 -- receives special education services, and nearly $1 of every $4 spent on education goes to special education. In the past decade, while general education costs increased 40 percent, spending for special education increased by 65 percent, nearly a $700 million jump.

The panel -- the Education Cost-Sharing Task Force -- which includes the governor's budget director and the co-chairwomen of the legislature's Education and Appropriations committees, will likely recommend who should pay for special education as it's now structured.

Panel members at a meeting last week, however, hesitated to support changes that many local school leaders say would cut their special education costs; the members leaned, instead, toward studying those changes.

"I'm afraid special education costs are growing at the expense of regular education," Ben Barnes, the governor's budget director, said at last week's task force meeting. "If we do not figure out a way to control special education costs then anything we do for [overall education funding] is irrelevant."

Meriden Superintendent Mark Benigni, a member of the task force, said every year he has to consider cutting music programs, advanced placement courses and other elective classes so he can afford to pay for mandated special education services.

The situation is "alarming," he said.

In an interview after the meeting, Nancy Prescott, executive director of the Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center, said it's disappointing that decisions may be made on costs, not on the actual need of special education students.

"It shouldn't be based on numbers," said Prescott, whose center helps about 5,000 parents of children with special education needs receive services each year.

Who should foot the bill?

The cost of educating an average student in Connecticut is about $14,400.Thousands of special education students cost their districts well over $50,000 a year each. This can pay for services that include one-on-one tutoring, special learning equipment or tuition for an out-of-district program. (About 300 students cost more than $150,000 each year.)

Currently the state picks up the bill when the cost to provide special services for a student exceeds 4.5 times the district's average cost to educate a student. However, in seven of the last 10 years, the state did not pay its full share, which left districts paying even more of the cost.

The State Department of Education's budget director has reported that it would cost the state an additional $101 million to fully pay its share of special education costs for the 2013-14 school year, a challenging price tag that for a state struggling to keep its budget balanced.

In addition to the panel's preliminary recommendations to require that wealthy districts and parents pay more of special education costs, it also calls for low-income districts -- which typically have higher concentrations of students with special education needs -- pay a smaller share of the costs.

"Just put it on a sliding scale, where the wealthy districts pay 80 percent of the costs... Why don't we ask parents who can afford it to contribute," suggested Ted Sergi, a task force member and former state education commissioner. "And by the way, it will reduce costs for the state."

While committee members were receptive to the idea of different state reimbursements for districts, they noted they don't want to create any incentives for districts to identify for more or less students based on how much money they will, or will not, get.

Some panel members questioned whether federal and state special education laws would allow parents to chip in, noting that those laws require that special education students receive a "free appropriate education."

Prescott, of the parent advocacy center, said she has a serious problem with charging parents, no matter their income, for education.

"Free means free. Unless federal law is changed, I don't see any place for a parent to be paying for an appropriate education," she said. "It's amazing it's being considered."

What's driving the cost?

Connecticut is one of six states that requires a school district to prove that a special education student is receiving an appropriate education. In 44 states, the burden of proof lies on the parents to prove the education is not sufficient.

Many local school officials have complained for years about the costs of fighting a parent's complaint because the district must pay the legal fees regardless of the outcome. The State Department of Education reports that each year only about 200 cases are challenged and brought before an independent hearing officer.

Many districts point to the burden of proof issue as the single most expensive cost of providing special education. A preliminary task force recommendation would keep this state regulation -- but calls for the state to pay for an independent study to look at requiring the parent and the district to share the burden.

In a recent education department survey, 68 percent of districts say shifting the burden in the cases that came before the hearing officer would save them an average of $74,000 a year. But if parents had to pay to prove that their child's education services were not adequate, nearly half the districts said they would have made a different, and possibly less costly, decision, when negotiating which special services to provide.

Job search websites that are accessible to screen readers

Dear DORS- BESB staff and community partners,

 

Immediately below is a link to a new feature that has been added to our website. Rehabilitation Teacher Jolene Nemeth has conducted research on many of the job search websites available on the internet to determine which websites are the most user friendly to screen readers. Her results are compiled in a listing that includes links to each of the job search engines. The link below can also be found in the Vocational Rehabilitation Section of the DORS- BESB website at www.ct.gov/dors  or  www.ct.gov/besb.    

 

 

Accessible Job Search Websites

ADAPT Activists Sentenced for Protesting Medicaid Cuts in the Ryan Budget

Alliance of Disability Advocates Center for Independent Living www.alliancecil.org ADA-CIL Information Network Distributed: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 Subject: Arrest made … ADAPT Activists Sentenced for Protesting Medicaid Cuts in the Ryan Budget Washington, D.C. — Fourteen of the 74 ADAPT activists arrested in April for protesting Chair of the House Budget Committee Representative Ryan's proposal to cut Medicaid funding by $800 billion were sentenced in Superior Court of the District of Columbia. After demanding that all arrestees appear in court in person, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia made a last minute reversal. Sixty were excused from appearing in person, however, the US Attorney's Office still required 14 of the protesters (from as far away as Kansas, Minnesota and Texas) to appear in court. The 14 pled guilty and were sentenced to a suspended 10 days in a DC jail, and put on six months’ probation. In addition the court required they pay $50 toward a crime victim's fund. During the six months, they can't be arrested and must stay off the Capitol grounds. During the court proceedings, Mike Oxford, an ADAPT organizer from Kansas, made a statement on behalf of the group. "People felt they had no option but to protest because the proposed Medicaid cuts are so extreme, he said. “If enacted, these cuts will leave people with disabilities without services that help them with the most basic aspects of living: getting out of bed, getting dressed, eating and going to the bathroom. For some with significant health problems, it will mean no health care. These cuts threaten our very lives." Commenting on her sentence, Jennifer McPhail, an ADAPT organizer from Texas, said, "No one is paying attention to the damage these Medicaid cuts will do to our lives and our nation's safety net. ADAPT and others in the disability rights community have repeatedly offered cost saving proposals that would save tax dollars while improving the system, but our suggestions have, for the most part, been ignored. Instead, they just decide to arbitrarily slash Medicaid. We can't just sit quietly when our own government is painting targets on us." The remaining 60 activists, including Noah Wyle, while not required at the last minute to attend court yesterday, did sign onto an agreement with similar requirements to the 14 who appeared in person. In addition to the agreement signed by the protesters, the U.S. Attorney's Office asked the judge to issue an additional court order barring them from going on Capitol grounds. The judge granted the request which potentially allows the U.S. Attorney's office to add additional charges if any of those protesters are found on the Capitol grounds. Many people in the disability rights community were stunned when the protesters were required to return to court. "At first, the US Attorney's office wasn't going to waive the personal appearance for any of the protesters, but because of the public outcry, they changed their mind at 6 PM on Friday. Had that not happened, all 74 would have been forced to return to D.C. from all over the country," ADAPT organizer Bruce Darling explained. Despite the appearance reversal, activists still incurred significant expenses because tickets, accommodations, and attendant services had been arranged at a high and sometimes non-refundable cost. ADAPT vows to continue the My Medicaid Matters Campaign and the fight for community services. # # # Alliance of Disability Advocates Center for Independent Living promotes the advancement of “People First Language.” Alliance of Disability Advocates Center for Independent Living PO Box 12988 Raleigh, NC 27605-2988 919.833.1117 V/TTY 919.833.1171 FAX alliance@alliancecil.org www.alliancecil.org

NCIL Statement on Fragrance-Free Events

NCIL Statement on Fragrance-Free Events The National Council on Independent Living has developed the following statement on the importance of attending events fragrance-free in order to ensure accessibility for all attendees, specifically at the 2012 Annual Conference on Independent Living. Fragrance can be an access barrier! To help make this conference accessible to participants for whom chemicals or fragrances are an access barrier, NCIL requests that you come fragrance-free. Please refrain from wearing any scented products or washing with them. This includes clothing that has been laundered with fragranced detergent or fabric softening products. Additionally, please completely air out any dry-cleaned clothing before wearing it to the conference. Read more information about how and why to be fragrance free. Smoke can be an access barrier! It is also essential that we maintain a smoke-free environment. If you smoke, please use the designated smoking area located outside the conference center. Please refrain from smoking near any other doorways or paths of travel. The hotel entrance at 11st Street will be the least polluted with cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust. Unfortunately, it has steps. The Washington Center office building is attached to the Grand Hyatt and offers an accessible entrance to the hotel with minimal exposure to smoke and vehicle exhaust at the corner of 11th & G Streets NW. Cell phones can be an access barrier! Please turn off cell phones at all conference events and when requested.

CCCI Asks That You Help to Spread the Word

 

Hi Everyone!

 

As you know, Connecticut Community Care, Inc. will be hosting “Young@Heart Chorus” at the Bushnell-Belding Theater on Saturday, June 16, 2012. This concert will benefit CCCI’s Independent Living Fund. Would you help us spread the word via Facebook if you have an account?

 

If you have an account, we’d very much appreciate it if you would share the “Young@Heart” event from the Connecticut Community Care, Inc.’s Facebook page on your Facebook wall. It’s easy to do.

1. Go to the Connecticut Community Care, Inc. Facebook page. If you have not yet “liked” us, please do.
2. Go to the Events tab (below the “community” cover photo and to the right)
3. Click on the picture of “Young@Heart”
4. At the “Young@Heart” Events page, click “share” at the right of the screen
5. This brings up another box to select who and how you would like to share it. Leave it on “On Your Own Timeline”
6. You can then “write something” in the box, i.e. “Don’t miss out on this fun evening to benefit CCCI’s Independent Living Fund.”
7. Click Share Event

 

Also, if you are attending the concert, please click “join” on the events page. I have a feeling that there are a good number of us in the CCCI family who are attending.

 

Thanks again for you support. It’s great to see so many supporting this event through sponsorships and spreading the word in different ways.

 

If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact me directly.

 

 

All my best,

-Ursula.

 

 

Debra L. Farslow

Executive Assistant

Corporate Office

43 Enterprise Dr., Bristol, CT 06010

(860) 314-2235

CAHS Webinar - Bank on Connecticut

 

CAHS Webinar - Bank on Connecticut

BANK ON Connecticut - Join us for a Webinar on June 7

 

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/320633274

 

• Bank On Connecticut is a recently launched program created to offer unbanked or underbanked individuals a way of learning about banking and opening safe starter checking or savings accounts.
• Goal of the Webinar: We want to be a resource for you and your clients. Learn about how to get your clients engaged in Bank On Connecticut and see if you may be interested in becoming a future partner.
• What is Bank On Connecticut?
• Bank On Connecticut is a national movement created to reduce barriers to banking and increase access to the financial mainstream. Bank On Connecticut was launched by the Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS) in partnership with Community Based Organizations, Banks, and with support from the Treasurer’s Office in December 2011.
• A bank account can help individuals save money, avoid theft, manage money, and help them save for the future. We believe everyone should have the opportunity to open an affordable bank account and build a more successful financial future. 
  
  Sign up now to learn more!

 

Title:

A New Program Seeking to Bank the Unbanked

Date:

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Time:

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM EDT

 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

 

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

 

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

 

 

May 29, 2012 On Sunday morning, CCADV Executive Director Karen Jarmoc was interviewed by Laurie Perez from FOX 61 on her news show "The Real Story." Karen spoke powerfully about the importance of renewing the federal Violence Against Women Act to stabilize the many programs and services Connecticut has in place to keep victims safe and hold offenders accountable for their actions. If you did not see the show, here is an opportunity to see what Karen had to say. Click here to view a clip from the show. Sincerely, Linda Blozie Director of Training and Public Affairs ****************** The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Inc. is a membership organization made up of the state's 18 domestic violence agencies. Help is available to victims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.. Each agency offers free services to victims including a toll-free hotline, safety through shelter, counseling and support groups, and by assisting in securing a restraining order. If you or someone you know needs support, call the statewide free and confidential hotline at 888-774-2900. For more information about CCADV visit us online at www.ctcadv.org Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) 90 Pitkin Street East Hartford, CT 06108 (860) 282-7899 www.ctcadv.org

Foundation seeking grant applications from families in need

Foundation seeking grant applications from families in need Published 05/16/2012 12:00 AM Updated 05/16/2012 03:57 PM The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation announced today that it is seeking grant applications from families in need of financial assistance to help pay for their child’s health care treatments, services or equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health insurance plan. Qualifying families can receive up to $5,000 to help pay for medical services and equipment such as physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services, surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids. To be eligible, children must be 16 years of age or younger. Families must meet economic guidelines, reside in the United States and have a commercial health insurance plan. Grants are available for medical expenses families have incurred 60 days prior to the date of application as well as for ongoing and future medical needs. To apply, visit: uhccf.org. There is no application deadline. Organizations or private donors can make tax-deductible donations to the foundation at this website. “The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is dedicated to improving a child’s health and quality of life by making it easier to access needed medical-related services,” Stephen Farrell, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare of New England said. “The grants enable families to focus on their children’s care instead of worrying about how they’ll pay their medical bills.” In 2011, UHCCF awarded more than 1,200 grants to families across the country for treatments associated with medical conditions such as cancer, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, hearing loss, autism, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, ADHD and cerebral palsy. The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity. Nancy Cowser Vice President, Planning UCFS 34 East Town Street Norwich, CT 06360 860-822-4161 - Phone 860-889-3450 - Fax www.ucfs.org

Independent Living Day at the Capitol - April 11, 2012

Independent Living Day at the Connecticut Capitol
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
State Capitol Building
Old Judiciary Room, Room 310

10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Join Consumers and Advocates from around Connecticut at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to build advocacy skills, review the status of bills pending in the legislature and receive briefings from legislators on matters of public policy.
Everyone interested in Disability Advocacy is welcome!
Free Registration
CACIL will provide:

Transportation from each Center for Independent Living to the Capitol
Coffee and Pastries in the morning
Lunch, assorted sandwiches, fruit, chips and soda
Advocacy Training Materials
ASL Interpreters
PCAs

Register at your nearest Center for Independent Living
Center For Disability Rights, West Haven CT, (203) 934-7079
Disabilities Network of Eastern CT, Norwich, CT, (860) 823-1898
Disability Resource Center Of Fairfield County, Inc., Stratford CT, (203) 378-6977
Independence Northwest, Inc., Naugatuck CT, (203) 729-1281
Independence Unlimited, Inc., Hartford CT, (860) 523-5021
or
CT Association of Centers for Independent Living, Hartford, CT, (860) 656-0430

ECAT Event - Autism

The Eastern CT Assistive Technology Center (ECAT)
Presenting
Apps for Autism
Where: The Windham Regional Community Council
872 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
When: Tuesday, March 20, 2012; 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Learn how Apple products and applications can increase
independence
Some apps for the following featured:
• Communication
• Scheduling
• Positive behavioral supports
Join us for …
A hands on learning experience!!
Please R.S.V.P. (860) 423-4534; ext. 319; by March 16, 2012
Brought to you by ECAT Center Partners:
The Windham Regional Community Council
The ew England Assistive Technology
( EAT) Center at Oak Hill
The Connecticut Tech Act Project
No refreshments provided.

FREE Tax Preparation

Norwich Human Services
80 Broadway, Norwich, CT
will be offering FREE Income Tax Preparation & e-filing to low and moderate income Norwich residents.


This service will be available beginning January 16, 2012
through April 11th.

Please call 823-3778 to schedule an appointment.
Day, Evening and Saturday appointments available.



This service is made possible by VITA, the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program

DNEC Has Moved!

Disabilities Network of Eastern CT has MOVED!

Our new offices are located in the Norwich Industrial Park at:

19 Ohio Avenue
Norwich, CT 06360

Our phone and fax numbers remain the same: 860-823-1898 / 860-886-2316

Grace Curtis Conference presented by Lighthouse Voc-Ed Center

 

Katie Flynn
Resource Specialist
Lighthouse Voc-Ed Center   

   Featuring LeDerick Horne & the Shut-up Sisters
Sunday March 25, 2012: Mystic Marriott
$40 registration fee

Visit www.lvecenter.com to register
Cost-effective conference for our community!

A NEW NAMI-CT Support Group

NAMI- CT Presents:
A NEW NAMI-CT Support Group
This Support Group is for Parents, Family members and Friends of adult people with Behavioral, Health problems,

Please join us to share in support and encouragement with other individuals who understand the feelings and challenges of caring for a loved one with behavioral, emotional or mental health disorders.

When: Second Monday of each month 06:30 - 08:00 PM
Starting: January 09th 2012
Where: Thompson Library / Community Center
934,Riverside Drive,North Grosvenordale CT 06255

If you have any questions, please contact Sonya at 860-923-9344 or Larissa at lgdbenoit@gmail.com

For more information about the National Alliance on Mental Illness please call the NAMI-CT office at 860-882-0236 or our website: www.namict.org

Governor Malloy Names Amy Porter Director of New Bureau of Rehabilitative Services

GOV. MALLOY NAMES AMY PORTER DIRECTOR OF NEW BUREAU OF REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he has appointed Dr. Amy Porter of Coventry to serve as Director of the newly merged state Bureau of Rehabilitative Services.

The Bureau is a new agency created last year through the consolidation of several state offices, including the former Department of Social Services (DSS) Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, the State Board of Education & Services for the Blind, the Commission on Deaf & Hearing Impaired, and portions of the Workers’ Compensation Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles.

Porter, who has twenty years of experience in the field of rehabilitation, currently heads the new office’s Rehabilitation Services Division. Prior to that, she was director of the DSS Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, which is now the Rehabilitation Services Division and is one of the state offices consolidated into this new agency. She has a doctorate in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

“Amy has a sharp knowledge and understanding of the important programs for citizens with disabilities under the responsibility of this newly merged agency,” Governor Malloy said. “Especially as the office continues to undergo its transition, I’m confident that she will lead this merger in a way that continues to benefit those who receive its services while also ensuring that it efficiently and resourcefully meets its goals.”

“The creation of the new Bureau of Rehabilitative Services provides an exciting opportunity to realign disability services in Connecticut,” Porter said. “With the deep roots of each of the programs coming together in the new Bureau, we have tremendous experience to draw upon to create a new vision for disability services and supports. I am honored to help lead this effort, and look forward with optimism to the work ahead.”

DSS Commissioner Rod Bremby had served as the new Bureau’s Acting Director since the consolidated agency launched on July 1, 2011. Commissioner Bremby stated, “During the transition, the Bureau’s programs have continued to operate without interruption and have been successful in delivering appropriate and timely services. I look forward to continuing working with Amy in her new capacity as Director of this vital agency.”

###

For Immediate Release: January 17, 2012
Contact: David BednarzDavid.Bednarz@ct.gov860-524-7315 (office)860-770-9792 (cell)

Twitter: @GovMalloyOffice
Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy