Michigan officials back off on reduction in special ed staffing
May 8th, 2008From the Detroit Free Press:
Officials in Wayne County, Michigan, have decided not to proceed with a controversial plan that would have nearly tripled the number of children with severe impairments that would be assigned to each teacher.
The change came after parents objected strongly to reports of impending increases in student-teacher ratios. One proposal, now scrapped, would have changed the pupil-teacher ratio for students with multiple impairments from 10 students per teacher, with two classroom aides, to 30-to-1 with three aides.
Parents said the proposed changes would imperil student safety and jeopardize any gains the students had made.
Special Education Director Mark Francis said he hopes to use the controversy to lobby legislators for more money for the programs. Costs for these programs are increasing at a rate of 5% per year, while funding is only going up at a rate of 1% to 1.5% each year, Francis said.
Earlier stories:
Detroit News: Disabled class shift opposed; Parents say plan by Wayne County to save money would put safety, learning at risk
Detroit Free Press: Major special ed changes weighed; Increase in ratios a danger to students, parents say
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on Thursday, May 8th, 2008 at 12:03 pm and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, advocacy, funding, special education.
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