Federal regulations will allow the districts to keep spending at reduced levels. But Kevin Magin, associate superintendent of the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency, said there shouldn't be any noticeable impact.
"All the services" students are "entitled to under the rules will remain in place," he said.
Parents are not convinced.
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"Everything they can do to help balance the budget is being done," Magin said.
But stimulus money will run out eventually -- within the next couple of school years -- and parents question whether districts will remain at that reduced level of local spending or go back to the pre-stimulus level.
The answer, Magin said, will vary by district. Some -- such as those experiencing enrollment declines -- are in a position that will allow them to cut local spending without affecting their special-education programs.
But for other districts, going back to the pre-stimulus level of local spending will be necessary. Special education is a federally mandated program with strict federal and state regulations that affect how much schools can cut programs.
Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools is reducing its local spending on special education by about $700,000, and the district's declining enrollment means that it likely will be able to stay at that reduced level when the stimulus is gone, Superintendent Tom Moline said.
Shari Krishnan of Troy, whose son attends Avondale High School, doesn't object to districts reducing their local spending on special education, "as long as local districts maintain a sense of integrity in addressing the individual needs of students."
'It's going to get worse'
Parent advocate Carolyn Gammicchia of Shelby Township, whose son has autism, said she's already hearing stories of parents being told their child's school district
can't afford to provide certain services or equipment. With the shift in funding, "it's going to get worse."
But what has some parents of special needs children more concerned -- and even angry -- about is that changes at the state level make it easier for all districts to take advantage of the ability to reduce local spending.
The federal law says only districts whose special-education programs are compliant with a set of indicators can reduce their local spending. The indicators measure things such as whether a district completes an initial individual education program plan for a special needs child within 30 days.
(3 of 3)
States have been required to evaluate school districts annually for three years. The Michigan Department of Education changed the way it completes those evaluations this year. The result? Every district is now considered in compliance -- even those that a year ago were deemed in need of improvement.
State changes and monitoring
Jacquelyn Thompson, director of the Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services, said the changes were made so that the state evaluated districts using the same set of indicators that the U.S. Department of Education uses. Last year, she said, most districts were compliant.
But it's not sitting well with people like Marcie Lipsitt, a Franklin parent of a son with special needs.
"It's beyond infuriating," Lipsitt, also a parent advocate, said. The state changes, she said, just make it easier for districts to "balance their budgets on the backs of students with disabilities."
Krishnan worries how the state will ensure the districts are improving their special-education programs. "There's no impetus for them to improve," said Krishnan, whose son has autism.
Thompson, though, described the indicators as a small part of how the state monitors special-education programs, saying there is a broader method for determining which districts need improvement and assisting them.
"It doesn't mean anybody is off the hook," Thompson said.
"Everything they can do to help balance the budget is being done," Magin said.
But stimulus money will run out eventually -- within the next couple of school years -- and parents question whether districts will remain at that reduced level of local spending or go back to the pre-stimulus level.
The answer, Magin said, will vary by district. Some -- such as those experiencing enrollment declines -- are in a position that will allow them to cut local spending without affecting their special-education programs.
But for other districts, going back to the pre-stimulus level of local spending will be necessary. Special education is a federally mandated program with strict federal and state regulations that affect how much schools can cut programs.
Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools is reducing its local spending on special education by about $700,000, and the district's declining enrollment means that it likely will be able to stay at that reduced level when the stimulus is gone, Superintendent Tom Moline said.
Shari Krishnan of Troy, whose son attends Avondale High School, doesn't object to districts reducing their local spending on special education, "as long as local districts maintain a sense of integrity in addressing the individual needs of students."
'It's going to get worse'
Parent advocate Carolyn Gammicchia of Shelby Township, whose son has autism, said she's already hearing stories of parents being told their child's school district can't afford to provide certain services or equipment. With the shift in funding, "it's going to get worse."
But what has some parents of special needs children more concerned -- and even angry -- about is that changes at the state level make it easier for all districts to take advantage of the ability to reduce local spending.
The federal law says only districts whose special-education programs are compliant with a set of indicators can reduce their local spending. The indicators measure things such as whether a district completes an initial individual education program plan for a special needs child within 30 days.
(3 of 3)
States have been required to evaluate school districts annually for three years. The Michigan Department of Education changed the way it completes those evaluations this year. The result? Every district is now considered in compliance -- even those that a year ago were deemed in need of improvement.
State changes and monitoring
Jacquelyn Thompson, director of the Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services, said the changes were made so that the state evaluated districts using the same set of indicators that the U.S. Department of Education uses. Last year, she said, most districts were compliant.
But it's not sitting well with people like Marcie Lipsitt, a Franklin parent of a son with special needs.
"It's beyond infuriating," Lipsitt, also a parent advocate, said. The state changes, she said, just make it easier for districts to "balance their budgets on the backs of students with disabilities."
Krishnan worries how the state will ensure the districts are improving their special-education programs. "There's no impetus for them to improve," said Krishnan, whose son has autism.
Thompson, though, described the indicators as a small part of how the state monitors special-education programs, saying there is a broader method for determining which districts need improvement and assisting them.
"It doesn't mean anybody is off the hook," Thompson said.
Contact LORI HIGGINS: 313-222-6651 or lhiggins@freepress.com
