We appreciate the work of the Caring for Individuals with Autism Task Force and its members. We applaud their willingness to devote time and effort, to provide meaningful recommendations to the legislature and the people of Washington state. These WSSEC comments focus on public education, and include initiatives to improve system accountability and provision of resources.
WSSEC Ideas/Suggestions
Create a Core team of educators with expertise across the Autism spectrum served in Birth to Three and K-12 public education through the state needs projects (Projects funded out of federal discretionary monies that benefit the state as a whole or would not otherwise be available in a given region.).
Use video streaming to provide all educators (gen ed & sp ed) with real time feedback and coaching that provides practical classroom strategies.
Include Positive Behavior Intervention (for all students) coursework to post graduate students (gen ed & sp ed teachers & principals).
Expand and support WAC training to districts provided by the state’s existing resources (state needs project).
Increase Basic Education Allocation
We support the training activities referred to in TT-1 and TT-7, and suggest that these be coordinated with school personnel. Professional development activities for educators that include WAC training, will improve consistency for process and services in the areas of referral, evaluation, early intervention, family involvement, individual education plans and secondary transition, where there is lack of system accountability represented by inappropriate, ineffective, or incomplete implementation of current special ed statute.
We agree with the draft recommendations statement on funding (F-6) and concur with the JLARC report which points out the confusing elusive aspects of our current statewide education funding system. Special ed funding in Washington lies within the top tier of all states, but our basic ed funding ranks 42nd in the nation. Making matters worse, only about ten percent of the BEA (Basic Ed Allocation) is spent on students receiving special education services. We need to address the area of shortfall (BEA) and demand transparent accounting methods, that reflect clear revenues and expenditures that can be understood by ordinary citizens.
Finally, the WSSEC suggests adding educators in the field of special ed to the recommendations of F-7.
As always, the WSSEC stands ready to assist members of the Caring for Individuals with Autism Taskforce individually or as a whole, to discuss or answer questions about our comments.
We thank you for this opportunity to comment and commend you for your hard work.
Contact Person:
Donna Obermeyer, donnao25@aol.com
WSSEC Parent Community Coordinator