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Indianapolis
Star Looks at Special Education
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Note: On Sunday,
August 12, The Indianapolis Star ran an editorial highlighting the
need to address the needs of children with special needs - pointing
out the increasing number of kids with learning disabilities. Here
are some of my thoughts we are sharing with The Star.
The Star’s editorial on Sunday was right on target for children with
special needs. But we need to make sure the target is the right one
and is broad enough.
The growth in special education, and many other pressures on our
communities, has put tremendous strain on our educational system.
More parents are displaced workers, home foreclosures hit children
as well as parents, more children are living in poverty - the number
one predictor of outcomes in education - and there are a
disproportionate number of poor children identified as having
special needs.
At the same time, increasingly higher requirements are being placed
on schools to raise standards. The goal is to bring about a well
educated student ready for higher education, the workforce, or
specialized training. Yet, there is increasing concern over drop out
rates - a drop out rate that hits children with special needs even
harder than the general population.
Families are losing confidence in the public education. Taxpayers
who do not have children in public education worry only about the
cost, or look only at their school system that is building new
buildings, football stadiums, and pools and wonder what the problem
is with everyone else.
The needs of all students must be addressed with a clear vision
about outcomes for all students. Critical issues that must be
addressed include graduation rates, skills of students graduating,
instilling a desire for and knowledge of advance education or
training, and assuring all students are on track for success. All
this must include students with special needs.
These efforts must also include addressing the special needs of
Hoosier families -- good jobs, housing, and access to quality
medical and mental health care. Without these basic foundations, the
whole target will be missed entirely.
To assure the whole target is addressed will take the renewed
commitment of the entire community, as well as local, state and
federal resources. The Star has begun an important discussion that
we hope will be just the start of a continuing dialogue. |
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