Washington State Special Education Coalition » News

Special Education Parent Councils join forces

luke — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:19:03 +0000

In February, representatives of parent councils from seventeen school districts met to talk about their individual parent advocacy groups and systems change in special education.

At the one-day meeting, the groups discussed advocacy strategies; training and council development; the challenge of being advisory versus having a genuine advocacy role in the district; how to best share resources and information between groups; how to best use the law; engaging parents from diverse backgrounds; special education law resources and a variety of other topics.

The parent groups were mostly representative of the I-5 corridor of Washington state, ranging from as far south as Vancouver, and as far north as Marysville. The group discussed ways to reach out to parent councils on the peninsula or in Eastern Washington. Disability Rights Washington facilitated the meeting, which was held at the Washington Education Association in Federal Way.

The State Special Education Coalition and the State Education Ombudsman provided support and resources for the day. Open Doors for Multicultural Families also attended.

The groups have begun to share training and resource information, and will meet again in June.

Superintendent Dorn on the Alliance special education lawsuit

luke — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 06:34:01 +0000

The WSSEC has stated all along that the real funding issue is the critical shortage of funding for ALL students in our public schools today, not just one minority group. We are confident that the Supreme Court will reaffirm the McCleary ruling next year.

Christie Perkins
WSSEC Public Policy Chair

Statement by Supt. Randy Dorn on Alliance lawsuit:

The Washington state Supreme Court issued its ruling today on School Districts’ Alliance for Adequate Funding of Special Education v. State. The Court affirmed the Court of Appeals ruling that the Alliance should have included the basic education allocation when calculating whether the state underfunds special education. “When the BEA is included, the Alliance has not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the State underfunds special education,” the Supreme Court stated.

The real issue regarding education funding is whether it is amply funded.

We know it is not. In February, the King County Superior Court, in the McCleary case, ruled that the state isn’t living up to its constitutional duty to amply fund education. That case is where the real debate lies. When the state amply funds education, all students, including those who receive special education services, will benefit.

Governor’s 2010 Disability Awareness Month Proclamation

luke — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 04:32:22 +0000

Governor’s 2010 Disability Awareness Month Proclamation

Student Centered Education Project is no longer being funded

luke — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 04:43:19 +0000

Due to state financial crisis and revenue shortfall, the grant to Washington Education Association in support of the Student Centered Education Project is no longer being funded.

If you are interested in a Facilitated IEP Meeting, you may contact Sound Options at 1-800-692-2540. If you have questions or need assistance regarding your child’s special education services, you may contact the Special Education Ombudsman, OSPI at 360-725-6075.

Judge John Erlick’s Feb. 24, 2010 ruling on Washington State funding for basic education

luke — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:27:08 +0000

“State funding is not ample, it is not stable and it is not dependable….the State is directed to determine the cost of amply providing for basic education and a basic program of education for all children resident in the state of Wa. The State must also comply with the Constitutional mandate to provide stable and dependable funding for such cost of basic education.”

Read the complete judgement (PDF)