Advocates: Hawaii furlough plan could harm kids with disabilities
October 8th, 2009From the Honolulu Advertiser:
Disability advocates and parents are strongly critical of a Hawaii plan to save money by furloughing teachers on 17 Fridays this school year. They say the furloughs would illegally deprive students of services promised by their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
IEPs often specify the number of hours a student should receive various services. Parents and advocates say a 4-day school week will limit the state’s ability to provide services in the time available. State officials say districts will honor all IEPs.
“This whole ‘Furlough Friday’ thing, in my mind – I’m not an attorney – is definitely going against the law,” said Naomi Grossman, vice president of the Autism Society of Hawaii. “Any change has to be based on a child’s needs. Even if a new calendar arises, it doesn’t change the need of the child.”
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