Wednesday, July 12, 2006

School Beat: 11th Hour Surprise: Special Education included in 4K program proposal

As late as 4 hours before the meeting on Monday night, The Observer requested the final version of the 4K proposal to be presented to the school board. It was clear that some of the text that had been circulated might have been draft material, so The Observer wanted to let the reading public know of the final version. It was sent to me and it appeared on this web site.

Imagine my surprise when at the School Board meeting, inserted in the proposal was a page titled, "Integration of Special Education Students in a 4Yr. Old Kindergarten Program".

Written by Krista Jones, the text states that "Bringing services to a child with disabilities in settings that provide opportunities for interaction with nondisabled peers is a philosophy supported by state and federal law. Currently some of our early childhood students receive their special education services in Head Start. ......"

The late inclusion of this aspect of the 4K proposal did not allow parents to even consider the impact of this for their remarks. It must be noted that the costs cited in the 4K Proposal itself did not envision the inclusion of Special education trained staff.

I hope there will be an opportunity for the new and unified proposal to be discussed and shared by everyone. Suprising the public at the 11th hour is no way to run a railroad.

That's how I see it.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous11:52 AM

    I called the Wisconsin dept of public instruction this morning. They thought that was a interesting arguement, how ever unfounded. I think they were laughing. Because if a school does not have a 4k program no one can make them have one. It is a community choice.

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