Comments on: Disability theme emerges anew at Republican convention http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/09/04/marin-defends-palin-3111/ Disability News | PatriciaEBauer.com Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:50:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jessica http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/09/04/marin-defends-palin-3111/comment-page-1/#comment-2498 Jessica Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:22:49 +0000 http://www.patriciaebauer.com/?p=3111#comment-2498 Actually she has INCREASED funding for special education and the original source of this 62% slash lie has now retracted the story. This charge is based on looking at the budget for Alaska's Special Education Service Agency for 2007-2009. In fact, the December 2006 budget document that they cite would have been prepared by the outgoing administration -- that of Republican Frank Murkowski, whom Palin defeated. What's gone unmentioned is that the Palin signed into law a dramatic reform of the state's education financing system that equalizes aid to rural and urban districts, while significantly increasing funding for special needs students. From the publication Education Week: Gov. Sarah Palin and state lawmakers have gone ahead with an overhaul of Alaska's school funding system that supporters predict will provide much-needed financial help to rural schools and those serving students with disabilities. The plan, enacted in the recently concluded session of the legislature, is based on recommendations issued by a legislative task force last year. It will phase in a greater flow of money to districts outside of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, over the next five years. Advocates for rural and remote schools have lobbied for years for more funding, in particular noting the higher fuel, transportation, and other costs associated with providing education in communities scattered across the vast state. A second part of the measure RAISES spending for students with special needs to $73,840 in fiscal 2011, from the current $26,900 per student in fiscal 2008, according to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. So it was alleged that Palin cut special needs funding by 62 percent, by crediting her with the budget proposed by a political opponent. And the truth is that rather than a 62 percent cut, she's actually increasing special needs funding by 175 percent. The amount per student will nearly TRIPLE in the next 3 years thanks to Sarah Palin! Actually she has INCREASED funding for special education and the original source of this 62% slash lie has now retracted the story. This charge is based on looking at the budget for Alaska’s Special Education Service Agency for 2007-2009. In fact, the December 2006 budget document that they cite would have been prepared by the outgoing administration — that of Republican Frank Murkowski, whom Palin defeated.
What’s gone unmentioned is that the Palin signed into law a dramatic reform of the state’s education financing system that equalizes aid to rural and urban districts, while significantly increasing funding for special needs students. From the publication Education Week:

Gov. Sarah Palin and state lawmakers have gone ahead with an overhaul of Alaska’s school funding system that supporters predict will provide much-needed financial help to rural schools and those serving students with disabilities.
The plan, enacted in the recently concluded session of the legislature, is based on recommendations issued by a legislative task force last year. It will phase in a greater flow of money to districts outside of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, over the next five years.
Advocates for rural and remote schools have lobbied for years for more funding, in particular noting the higher fuel, transportation, and other costs associated with providing education in communities scattered across the vast state.
A second part of the measure RAISES spending for students with special needs to $73,840 in fiscal 2011, from the current $26,900 per student in fiscal 2008, according to the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.

So it was alleged that Palin cut special needs funding by 62 percent, by crediting her with the budget proposed by a political opponent. And the truth is that rather than a 62 percent cut, she’s actually increasing special needs funding by 175 percent.

The amount per student will nearly TRIPLE in the next 3 years thanks to Sarah Palin!

]]> By: Tom http://www.patriciaebauer.com/2008/09/04/marin-defends-palin-3111/comment-page-1/#comment-2493 Tom Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:29:36 +0000 http://www.patriciaebauer.com/?p=3111#comment-2493 The question is, is it appropriate for a politician to promise that parents of special children will have a voice in the White House when she has a history of slashing funds for special education? Does she plan to slash federal funds to special ed by 62% as she did in Alaska? Does she plan on doing anything to help parents with ill children? Or does she plan on leading the fight to slash budgets and let families worry about their own problems without any help from the government? The question is, is it appropriate for a politician to promise that parents of special children will have a voice in the White House when she has a history of slashing funds for special education? Does she plan to slash federal funds to special ed by 62% as she did in Alaska? Does she plan on doing anything to help parents with ill children? Or does she plan on leading the fight to slash budgets and let families worry about their own problems without any help from the government?

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