Latest news with #IEPs
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Viewpoint: Michigan schools get $160M in federal Medicaid funds. Cuts would harm students
In a time of deep political division, it's rare for management and labor to speak with one, united voice. But this moment calls for exactly that. Michigan's congressional delegation must protect Medicaid and reject any proposals that would cut or cap this critical program. Doing so would devastate our public schools and put Michigan students at risk. Medicaid may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about education funding, but for hundreds of school districts across our state, it's a lifeline. In the 2023 school year alone, Michigan schools received over $160 million in federal Medicaid dollars — funds used to support students with disabilities, deliver mental health care, and help children succeed in the classroom and beyond. These services are not optional. They are essential. Cutting Medicaid would mean pulling therapists, school psychologists, nurses, and paraprofessionals away from the students who rely on them most. It would stretch already-limited school resources even thinner and leave educators and administrators without the tools to meet the needs of our most vulnerable learners. Nearly every district in Michigan, rural and urban alike, participates in the Medicaid School Services Program, which helps reimburse schools for health-related services delivered to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). From speech therapy to physical therapy to mental health supports, these services make it possible for students with disabilities to learn, grow, and participate fully in school life. And it's not just special education that's on the line. Through the C4S (Care for Students) program, Medicaid also helps schools deliver critical health and mental health services to the general education population. The rise in youth mental health needs is well documented, and school leaders are working hard to respond. Losing Medicaid funding now would be a crushing setback. Let's be clear: this isn't just about dollars. It's about outcomes. It's about equity. Students cannot learn if their basic health needs are not met. Medicaid ensures that students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and students facing mental health challenges don't fall through the cracks. It's also about stability for school budgets. If these federal Medicaid dollars disappear, schools will be forced to make painful cuts or backfill these services with limited general fund dollars, robbing classrooms to pay for care that should be covered. That's an impossible choice for districts already operating under tight constraints. As education leaders representing the people who run our schools and the educators who bring them to life daily, we are urging Congress to reject any proposal that cuts or caps Medicaid. The future of our students depends on it. Michigan's public schools are still recovering from the disruptions of the pandemic. We are working hard to improve literacy rates, address absenteeism, and close opportunity gaps. Now is not the time to pull the rug out from under the very supports that help students thrive. Congress must protect Medicaid — for our schools, our educators, and most importantly, our students. Erik Edoff is the senior executive director of the Michigan Education Association, and Peter Spadafore is the executive director of the Michigan Association for Student Opportunity. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Opinion: Medicaid cuts would harm Michigan public school students
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Guilford County Schools explains funding challenge to serve exceptional children
GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — Guilford County Schools is grappling with an issue facing school districts nationwide. Educators want to know how they can best educate students with disabilities or learning challenges, who are also known as exceptional children. The number of students with disabilities or learning challenges has gone up in recent years, and the funding from the federal and state levels to provide legally mandated services has not. GCS is stretching itself thin to meet the needs of thousands of exceptional children. Exceptional children are those who have different educational needs than other students, whether it be in the form of a physical disability or one that isn't as apparent. Lindy Teachy works as an EC support lead for seven elementary schools with GCS. 'We definitely see a rise in our students who have mental health, social, emotional needs, behavioral needs. There's definitely been an increase in recent years in students who are presenting with those needs,' Teachy said. Exceptional children are given individual educational programs, or IEPs, which are legally binding documents with a plan for the student to achieve their educational goals with the support structure they need. A student granted an IEP must fall into one of 14 categories under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including autism, ADHD and more. To give students the best tools to be able to learn and focus, teachers often get creative on their own. At Bessemer Elementary School, Mrs. Morehead's classroom contains a balancing desk, a rocking chair and other options to help students. She also provides tea and snacks out of her own pocket, and she brought the rocking chair from home. Making sure all students have an accessible education is no small feat. In addition to a monetary cost, it comes at an emotional cost as well. 'They are doing the work, meeting the needs. They are very tired,' Teachy said. The state provides funding for EC students that is capped at 13 percent of the student body and at about $5,300 per student. GCS has about 10,000 EC students, which is closer to 15 percent, according to district officials. 'Our state-level funding has pretty much remained the same,' said Kimberly Steinke, the chief exceptional children and student services officer at GCS. While most of the EC students have milder challenges, some have far greater needs that exceed $5,300 a year. One example is a child requiring a nurse. 'On average, the cost of a nurse per year per student is about $65,000,' Steinke said. They also need more teachers and volunteers. 'All of the resources and all of the technology and all of the curriculum in the world cannot replace a good teacher,' Teachy said. If you are interested in volunteering, visit the school district website to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington takes ‘historic' step toward full funding for special education
Washington is on the cusp of eliminating a special education funding cap. (Photo by) Washington lawmakers are on the cusp of eliminating a special education funding cap, which critics said was straining school finances, hurting students, and putting the state at risk of a major lawsuit. On a 97-0 vote, the House amended, then passed Senate Bill 5263 this week to put Washington, for the first time, on a course to fully fund special education in its public schools. It also adjusted two other funding levers in the bill to drive more dollars for special education to the state's 295 school districts. All told, roughly $870 million more will be sent out over the next two budgets. That sum is a compromise with the Senate, which wanted to spend closer to $2 billion. Spending on special education in Oregon needs a revamped formula, researchers find Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, who called the cap 'unconscionable and maybe unconstitutional,' said its elimination is 'a historic achievement.' It commits the state to amply fund the education of every child with a disability, he said. Ditching the cap 'is the very first step to saying we're going to fully fund special education. This is going to absolutely help our schools,' said Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, who has three children with individualized education plans, or IEPs — plans developed for every public school student who needs special education services. 'It represents something we should all be proud of,' he said. Couture urged his colleagues to guard against any weakening of the legislation in the final stages of budget talks. Also Wednesday, the House passed a Senate bill to send additional dollars to districts to cover materials, supplies and operating costs — MSOC in state budget lingo. These costs, which cover non-employee-related expenses tied to a district's daily operations, have surged in recent years. 'This is a bill that will literally keep the lights on in schools,' said Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, a former school board member. The House amended, then passed Senate Bill 5192 on an 85-12 vote. It would boost the amount of state funding per student for MSOC to $1,614, an increase of $35. An additional $214.94 is provided for each high school student. That's four dollars more than the current rate. Couture opposed this legislation, saying it's too small an increase to help the most needy districts. 'I don't think an extra $35 will keep the lights on,' he said. Special education is the area where the gap is largest between what districts receive from the state and what they pay for with local dollars. In the 2022-23 school year, districts spent $590 million of local levy receipts to make up the difference, according to a performance audit issued in January by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. Washington uses two key mechanisms for determining what a district receives. First, there is the cap on the percentage of a school district's student population that can receive extra dollars for special education services. Under current law, the state only provides additional funding for up to 16% of a district's student population. In other words, if 20% of a district's population requires special education services, the district cannot get additional money for the remaining 4%. Second, the state distributes an amount of money for each student enrolled in a school, plus additional dollars for each special education student under a formula known as the multiplier. Senate Bill 5263 removes the enrollment cap and increases the multiplier to send more dollars to districts. It also simplifies the formula used by the state to determine how much will be provided per student. And it makes it easier for districts to qualify for additional special education dollars through a safety net program run by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, are the bill's co-sponsors. Pedersen, prior to the Senate vote, acknowledged the state's tight budget situation this year but said Washington's Constitution 'is very clear that funding basic education is our paramount duty.' 'The fact that it is expensive doesn't change that on the ground we've got kids with special needs who are in our charge and are relying on us to make sure that they get the education to which they're entitled,' he said. Initially, the House upped the multiplier and safety net but left the enrollment cap in place. Pollet continued to press for the cap's erasure as he has for the past 13 years. This time he prevailed. Changes made Wednesday will pump out $870 million to districts over the next four fiscal years, he said. If House Bill 2049 passes, it will be more, he said. That bill would allow an increase in annual property tax growth from the current 1% cap to the combined rate of population growth plus inflation within a taxing district, not to exceed 3%. This would apply to the state's property tax, also known as the common schools levy. The bill would also make other changes that could help districts receive more taxpayer dollars. A fiscal analysis estimates that uncapping the state property tax would bring in an additional $200 million in the next biennium and $618 million in the 2027-29 budget. School districts collectively could raise another $900 million locally over four years. The legislation is slated to be voted on Friday in the House Finance Committee. Washington State Standard, like the Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Northland rallies oppose Trump administration
Apr. 5—SUPERIOR — Hundreds of people lined both sides of Belknap Street near the Douglas County Courthouse carrying signs and joining chants in protest of the Trump administration's actions. It was just one of the events taking place Saturday, April 5, across the Northland and the United States. Similar Hands Off! mass mobilizations took place in Chisholm, Cloquet, Duluth, Ely, Grand Marais and Grand Rapids in Minnesota. The nationwide mobilization was organized to stop what the Hands Off 2025 website called "the most brazen power grab in modern history." "This is all very important to me," said Mary Smith-Johnson of Superior, one of the organizers of the demonstration in Superior. "I'm a retired special education teacher. I'm union. I'm a grandparent. I'm going to start receiving Social Security, health care. And I've felt like in northern Wisconsin we've been very quiet, and we needed to do something." There was nothing quiet Saturday as chants rose from the crowd such as "This is what democracy looks like." Horns blared as passing motorists blasted support for justice and democracy at the behest of signs held by protesters at both ends of the rally. Organizers were trying to get a count but estimated about 500 people turned out in Superior. Concern about the potential of losing the nation's democracy and the rights the people have had their entire lives inspired Rachel Warner of Superior to attend the mass mobilization in Superior. Warner cited climate change, women's rights, reproductive rights, the cancellation of the U.S. Agency for International Development, destruction of relationships with NATO partners, the economic consequences of tariffs and the instability they create, threats to public education if the Department of Education is eliminated as just some of the concerns she has with the Trump administration. "I don't know how we'll fund special education, IEPs and things like that," Warner said. "We can't just roll that onto Superior; Superior can't afford that." Denise McDonald of Superior was out to protect people's rights, particularly for the elderly. She said protecting Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid are important to her. "My mom's in a nursing home," McDonald said. "So, yeah, I definitely don't want to lose that because she gets help." McDonald said while her mother pays for a portion of her care, Medicaid helps fill the gap. "I just think it's important for people who feel strongly to do what they can and to object to all of the cutbacks that are changing our quality of life ...," said Pat Murphy of Herbster. "I voted, and I did not vote for this. I think a lot of people feel the same way, and it's gotten worse every day." Murphy said rallies like the Hands Off! mass mobilization offer community togetherness that makes people feel less fragile and hopeless in an impossible situation. "There's so many angles; it's affecting so many people," said Brenda Goetz of Port Wing. She said veterans, the park service, even the federal lands that have been protected for years are being affected by the decisions being made by the Trump administration. "I'm a postal service employee, and I'm afraid they're coming after the United States Postal Service and that's going to be taken away from the American people as a service and turned it into a business," Goetz said. "The prices will go up and the quality of service will go down, and probably my union will go away." For Tom Wilson of Eau Claire, the Hands Off! event in Superior was his second one Saturday. Wilson said he also attended the mobilization in Duluth, which he said drew about 2,500 people with only one heckler in the crowd. "I've been political all my life," said Wilson, who will turn 80 next month. Going back to the early 1960s, Wilson said he's been involved in protests for civil rights, against war, and for the environment, and as critical as those issues were, this moment feels even more critical. "If you read the Declaration of Independence, almost any one of our grievances against King George equally apply to Donald 2.0," Wilson said "That's it. The very truly founding principles of our country are at risk at this point."
Chicago Tribune
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Evergreen Park students show off for charity, and more
Talent show raises money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Students at Evergreen Park Community High School raised nearly $1,000 for the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society through the 12th annual National Honor Society Talent Show. Thirteen student acts performed in the show, including rappers, a Mexican folkloric ballet, singers, the high school's Unaccompanied Minors a cappella group and members of the Rock Band class Members of the NHS voted to give money to the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society because one of its members' sisters is being treated for lymphoma. The talent show donation will be made in her name. Money was raised through sales of the $5 tickets and baked goods made by students in the Culinary Arts Club. Amy Kazin and Ken Kazin helped with the show's production. Trout season starts begins at Cook County lakes Anglers can start fishing for trout at sunrise April 5 in the Forest Preserves of Cook County, including at Axehead Lake and Belleau Lake in Park Ridge, Sag Quarry East in Lemont, Horsetail Lake in Palos Park and Green Lake in Calumet City. The district has stocked more than 5,000 pounds of catchable-sized rainbow trout at the fishing lakes. During the season, there is a five trout per day creel limit with no size restrictions. Those fishing may not use more than two lines and no more than two hooks per line. Anglers 16 and older must have a valid Illinois sport fishing license with an inland trout stamp. The license is not required for Illinois residents who have a disability and a State of Illinois disabled ID card showing a Class 2 or 2A disability; have a Veterans Disability Card; or are residents on active military duty who are home on leave. Fishing guides are available at and include the location and depth of each lake as well as the main fish species. For details, call 708-403-6951. Parents of children with autism can learn about IEPs The Midlothian Public Library observes Autism Acceptance Month with 'What Is an IEP? Does My Child WIth Autism Need One?' from 6:30 to 8 p.m. April 8 at the library, 14701 S. Kenton Ave., Midlothian. Susan McMillan-Quilantan will explain the Individualized Education Program to parents of preschool or school-age children. She has a master's degree in social work and education and a doctorate in education. McMillan-Quilantan is a certified autism spectrum disorder clinical specialist and has written 'Step-By-Step Guide to Learning Independence for Daily Living Skills,' a book for children with autism and their parents that is in the library's collection. The program is free but registration is encouraged. Visit and click on 'events' or call 708-535-2027. Pulitzer Prize-winning authors speaks at Leo HS Jonathan Eig, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, recently spoke to students and others in a packed auditorium at Leo High School in Chicago, which purchased the youth version of his latest book, 'King: A Life,' published in January. Thanks to sponsors, including Leo alums, enough books were made available that the entire student body and next year's freshman class of about 100 students could have a copy. Eig shared that it took him six years to write the book, a biography of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. He was introduced by students who read passages they selected. 'Dr. King died in 1968, so he's just a figure in the history books to our Leo students and most of our staff,' Leo President Dan McGrath said via a news release. 'But in the book and in his presentation, Jonathan Eig did a wonderful job of bringing Dr. King into the room, bringing him to life in a way that underscored why his work was so important then and remains important now.' Free baby expo set for April 12 in Olympia Fields Franciscan Health Olympia Fields offers Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Baby Expo from 10 a.m. to noon April 12 at its hospital at 20201 S. Crawford Ave., Olympia Fields. Attendees will be treated to refreshments, gifts, giveaways and tours of the Family Birth Center, as well as being entered into a raffle to win a TAVO Next Stroller. Birth center staff will provide information on prenatal care, car seat safety, breastfeeding and safe sleep, and community resource representatives and health vendors will be on hand. The expo is free but advance registration is required by going online or calling 866-790-2229.
