By Tomminesha Matchingtouch
A special education advocate accused public school programs in Missouri and across the nation of having a “wait to fail†model when it comes to educating the learning disabled.
At a St. Louis Regional Education Roundtable discussion Wednesday, Patricia Hardman of Florida McKay Coalition said parent choice for special education is needed.
“If we aren’t making the change, we need to take the responsibility and make a change,†Hardman said.
She, along with two other panelists, attended a St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA) hosted discussion looking at special education options outside of the public school system. Much of the talk centered around a bill currently in the Missouri Assembly that would allow private donations to fund scholarship programs for special needs students.
School choice remains a divisive issue St. Louis, with advocates calling for more options, while others fear these reform tactics could dismantle the public school system.
Members of the panel said they weren’t “anti-public school†but wanted to offer other options to problems with special education.
The discussion primarily focused on plans to start a tax credit program which meets the needs of Missouri students while saving tax payers a lot of money.
“It will make the public schools more efficient and provide them with more resources,†said Dave Roland, policy analyst for the Show Me Institute.
The tax credit program calls for individual donations to fund scholarships. No public money would be used.
The measure needs to be passed by Missouri’s General Assembly to go into effect.
“Just because someone doesn’t have financial means they shouldn’t be locked into a school system that doesn’t serve their children’s needs,†said Anna Rich of the St. Louis Learning Disabilities Association.
Also at the meeting was David Thomas, CEO of the Logos School program. He is supportive of the upcoming measure seeing it as another option for families. Logos currently works with St. Louis Public Schools, taking on special needs students the district is unable to serve, if the family can afford the cost.
If the bill were to pass more students would be able to attend Logos’ private program.
“If a child (doesn’t) succeed we’re not answering them,†he said. “We’re not passing the test.â€
March 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
The measure needs to be passed by Missouri’s General Assembly to go into effect.
Any word from how the local senators and representatives view this? Have any positions been taken, or opinions offered?
March 26th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Two weeks ago in the post dispatch there was a story about charter schools for autistic children. Now it seem that the charter schools/voucher discussion is being directed to the need for special schools. As a means to get support for charter/vouchers. Rodney Hubbard said loosely : “you are either with autistic kids or against them. As if being against charter schools/vouchers is akin to being against disabled children. but oof course he supports anything that has a checkbook involved. $30,000 from Republicans trying to dismantle the STLPS
March 26th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Is there any advice forthcoming from Rex Sinquefield regarding this bill?
March 26th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
city lifer, Hubbard is viewed as a Judas by many of his constituents that accepts money from those that don’t have his constitutent’s interest at heart! Hopefully they will express their disdain for him at the ballot box!
March 26th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
This bill needs to pass to give these children a fighting chance! Special needs children, like my 9 year old daughter would really benefit from this. She is stuck in a school that does not give her the education and services she needs. I know she is not the only one. And, for the record, I am not against public schools…in fact, my other son attends one and succeeds. However, his needs are met.
Why should we let the thousands of special needs children throughout the state fall through the cracks? Lets give them a shot!
March 31st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
It could be my computer malfunctioning—-but—you can say this—–
Star Jones Says:
March 26th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
city lifer, Hubbard is viewed as a Judas by many of his constituents that accepts money from those that don’t have his constitutent’s interest at heart! Hopefully they will express their disdain for him at the ballot box!
But I remember posting this—it is still quoted at another site—
March 27th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2004/06/dyslexia_school.html
If I could choose one person, and one person only to check out this link—It would be Rodney Hubbard.
If there are legal problems regarding speak of dreams—maybe I need to remove it from the other site, too.
April 16th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Could the author of the blog please inform us how many people are actually being affected by the bill.