September 24, 2006
To Governor Gregoire & WA Learns Members
- We support the Picus & Odden report. In order for the system to be accountable to the students, and follow our constitutional duty, we must fully fund basic education for all. Currently, basic education is severely underfunded.
- We support the current special education funding formula and the safety net.
- All groups are now competing against each other for one small pot of BEA money, and students in special ed are being blamed for what in reality is a basic ed funding shortage.
- Making matters worse, our students on average are only benefiting from about 10% of the BEA they generate compared to 45% they used to get a few years ago when OSPI “backed it out”.
- We need a fully transparent reporting of ALL revenues and expenditures, so that all citizens can easily understand where ALL the money goes.
- Any manipulation of the BEA formula to benefit special education only would be inappropriate and unfair to others. Increase basic education funds FOR EVERYONE and all areas will benefit.
- We support taking the 3 & 4 year olds out of the 12.7%, funding them at 115% (same as Birth to 3) and increasing the index back up to 13%. (We have previously recommended this to the legislature).
- We ask members and policy makers not to forget the need for incentives for school psychologists, nurses, OT’s, PT’s, SLP’s & counselors.
- We highly support the committee’s report on creativity, as well as career & tech ed. There are numerous ways to help kids sometimes BEFORE they need special education services.
Please visit our website for more background and our previous letter sent to WA Learns, in addition to our Issues page under Funding & Finance. The Washington State Special Education Coalition again, wants to express its appreciation for the work of members of Washington Learns. We know that everyone has worked very hard to come up with useful recommendations that will benefit all our children.
Sincerely,
Mary E. McKnew, JD (President)
Christie Perkins (Public Policy Chair)
7602 Jade Dr. SW, Lakewood, WA 98498
edadvocate@mac.com