Special education reimbursement
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that parents of special-education students may seek government reimbursement for private school tuition, even if they have never received special-education services in public school. The New York Times reports that the 6-3 decision could force school districts to spend millions of dollars on private tuition costs for special-education students. The Times say the legal issue in the case was whether a 1997 amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA) prohibited private-school tuition reimbursement for students who never received special-education services in public school.
Do you think that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act should require public schools to pay the costs of private special education when the public system doesn’t offer an appropriate program?
Leave a comment below.
June 23rd, 2009 @ 7:36 am
Public schools nationwide are failing special-education needs students, and in fact any student that has special needs. As costs of these programs skyrocket, the schools are taking the easy way out to save costs and forcing special needs, special ed as well as ADHD, learning disabilities, etc.., into private schools. Public schools should pay the costs of this. They are causing the rush to private schools. Additionally, students that need just more teacher time, help taking tests, etc., are intentionally being failed, forcing them out of the public school sector. It really appears that public schools are becoming schools only for those that can succeed without any additional help.
June 23rd, 2009 @ 8:15 am
As the cost to educate special-needs children is very high, parents cannot afford it on their own. For very handicapped children, it is even more costly, as medical needs need to be included during the school day, along with special toileting. It would be very difficult for poor districts to afford this; afraid it needs to be a federal and state supported program to supplement whatever the local system is able to contribute.
June 23rd, 2009 @ 9:09 am
No. When the door to more expensive alternatives is open, parents will rush through. My concern is that this decision will break the backs of schools that are on the lower end of the socioeconomic structure and are already struggling. Court rulings, although based on an interpretation of the law, should also be based in reality. This decision is the equivalent of an unfunded mandate at its worst; this is an unfunded land-mine for all public school districts. I think the Court will come to regret this ruling sooner than later.
June 29th, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
No, I do not believe that the local school districts should be accountable for paying for all or even the majority of the bill to help train these special-needs children. I don’t want to deny the needs of these poor children, and the parents certainly shouldn’t be burdened with the costs since many just can’t afford it. I know the district I work for is struggling just to meet the needs of the student body as a whole. A small percentage of the students should not be allowed to use up a large portion of the funds. As Spock so eloquently stated; “the needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few.” This is a program that should be funded through the local or federal governments.