I just heard Senator Jim Bolin (R-16/Canton) tell Lori Walsh on SDPB that the interim study committee he chairs on the Extraordinary Cost Fund for Special Education is recommending the state take a “deep dive” on the issue of funding special education. Translation: we need another task force!
At its September 11 meeting, the ECFSEISC voted 11 to 1 to advance a draft bill that would convene a twelve-member (as amended with a school board member) two-year task force to “examine the rising numbers of students in South Dakota schools who are being identified as in need of special education or special education and related services, to examine the increasing costs of the services these students require, and to develop recommendations to address the situation.” The committee estimates the task force would cost maybe $43,000.
The only person to vote against that draft was arch-conservative Senator Jeff Monroe (R-24/Pierre). He must be angling for an appointment from Kristi Noem, since, as we should recall, Kristi Noem won the Republican Party in part by promising that “Under my administration, there would be no new boards, no new commissions, and no new blue ribbon task forces.”
Uh oh: looks like if big-government-loving Senator Bolin really wants to take that deep dive into special education, he’s going to have to vote for Billie Sutton for Governor.
I know Cory will hate to hear this, but Pat Powers has already railed against the draft bill on his blog for a perhaps-unexpected reason. The proposed task force includes NO PARENTS of children in need of or receiving special education services. This serious omission and slight is as bad as the current state taskforce on deaf education being unable to provide deaf interpreter services at their meetings.
It’s indeed rare that Powers would venture beyond his ultra-extreme cocoon to support something new that helps people other than his customers and his church. It’s notable however, that his assistance on this issue isn’t some newfound empathy for his fellow man, in general. It’s because Pat and his wife have a wonderful child with special needs, themselves. He’s NOW in favor of spending other’s money. But, only in the interest of greasing his own wheels, first.
I’m not sure why this study would take two years. If it’s a real priority for Legislators, it should be able to get things done in one year. At least, that should be the goal and if more time is needed, then the committee should ask for more time.
A lot of the data is already there. Increasing numbers and costs in special ed has been an ongoing problem for two decades. This was an issue when I was on the school board in Rapid, and I know districts generally know through the birth to 3 programs or 4K what the numbers and needs are for the future. I’m sure most districts have historical data, as well. Most states face similar issues, and academic and interest groups likely have more information than a task force needs.
It’s nice that Legislators have figured out there’s a problem, but most districts have dealt internally with this issue for the same amount of time that Legislators have been busy proposing bill that try to strip people of their right to initiative and referendum (that’s you, Bolin).
I don’t disrespect any parent who stands up for a child’s education, and the best results in special ed or any ed comes when parents take an active role. So, thanks to PP for recognizing the need for a parent on that task force.
Special education funding problems have been a real issue since at least 1975, when Public Law 94-142 became law and required local public school districts to provide public education services. Federal funds provided about 45% of the anticipated expenses, with an indistinct and chronically unfulfilled promise to increase the federal share. My firm has prepared tens of millions of dollars’ worth of federal grant proposals for SD special education on behalf of the SDDOE and the USD School of Medicine, and I did a lot of analysis of the special ed formula in the mid-1990s when Gov. Janklow and the SD Legislature made major revisions to it. (That’s a separate and fun discussion!)
I remember a history of local districts and the SDDOE arguing about the data since some data lag by as much as two years. A two-year task force would have the benefit of blunting much of that “these are numbers, and they may be current, but they may not be NOW numbers” dispute.
Michael,
Sure, data lags, and the state always wants use that data to short districts. But there should be data doing back decades which can tell you how numbers and costs lag on average. Clearly, small districts get hit with more volatility in costs. That is simple statistics. How much volatility there is it can be figured out using old data. You can have a pool of money that deals with cost volatility, based on historic data and some factor for inflation.
None of that is hard, it’s just the the state has to be convinced to deal with reality. That is what’s hard.
I think numbers of people born disabled is decreasing due to in utero testing. I understand why decisions to abort such fetuses are made, but I can’t help but think about Downs babies as some of the most joyful and kind people on this planet.
Spec Ed is expensive, but I don’t see how we can go back now that we know how productive disabled people can be and how much they have to offer.
Most of all, educating even those with the least ability to contribute to the best our ability with kindness and compassion is what makes us human.
I don’t hate to hear that, Michael. I already knew it. Pat’s all about opposing bigger government and the Republican agenda of shutting us out and letting the elites make all the decisions… until it comes to an issue he cares personally about, and then Pat rediscovers democracy and the voice of the people.
But Kristi Noem will have none of it. No new task forces, she said. How do Bolin and Powers resolve that conflict?
Cory,
There is a big difference between big Government and smart Government.
It doesn’t surprise me you don’t understand this.
Jason, you’re misfiring again.
Senator Bolin said he wants a new task force. Kristi Noem said she wants no new task forces. Kristi Noem isn’t talking nuances of “smarter government”. She said no new task forces. So shall we discuss the words your Republican friends are actually saying, or do you want to concede that they would lose the argument on their own words and admit that you want to debate different words that you wish they had chosen instead?
Kristie will get the same job done without a paid task force.
So Jason, you’re saying that Senator Bolin’s proposal is wrong-headed and unnecessary?
Any phrase suggesting that Kristi Noem gets any job done other than winning elections deserves laughter.