The Aug. 10 Valley News editorial, “School Rules: Public Funding for Private Education,” effectively raises public education policy questions. There appears, however, to be a misunderstanding of special education laws communicated in the statement from an educator that “that no school in Vermont serves students in all categories in-house.”
Public schools are accountable for all resident students with disabilities in all special education categories. The overwhelming majority of students with disabilities are educated in their local public schools. Through the special education process, a small percentage of students may need specialized educational services and placements outside the public school.
The Individual Education Plan Team, including the parent, determines an appropriate placement. The public school retains responsibility for that child’s education. Open enrollment for Vermont public schools means that the district enrolls all resident students seeking enrollment and remains accountable for the student’s special education needs wherever that student is placed, unless the parent refuses the special education services.
The relationship between public and independent schools serving general school-aged students in Vermont is framed by the differing and complex regulations currently governing services within public and independent schools. The State Board of Education rules review is important.
Under current regulations, the accountability for the program of a student with a disability enrolled through school choice in an independent school remains the public school district’s. However, oversight of staff hiring, programs and the professional development of the independent school staff are outside the purview of the school district.
A significant number of independent schools in Vermont serve students with disabilities under all of the disability categories. However, some do not. Common and clear expectations of independent schools with regard to admissions is needed. Millions of public tuition dollars support Vermont’s independent school students. Students with disabilities must be ensured the protections against discrimination in admissions and services afforded those with differences in race, ethnicity, religion, gender and gender identity.
The Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators supports the work of the State Board of Education in updating the rules. It is 40 years since federal law ensuring protection of students with disabilities was passed. These protections need to apply to all Vermont students seeking enrollment in all schools serving a general education purpose and benefiting from public tuition dollars.
Jo-Anne UnruhExecutive Director, VCSEA Donarae Dawson, President, VCSEAMontpelier
Last night I thought a long time about the position I should take in this election, specifically to make clear my basic beliefs. The Republican Party has retreated from a firm moral position. It has slid almost into noncommittal positions, as if in fear that a strict moral position would surely cost votes. Recognizing that an uncompromising stand is unpopular, I still hold that wishy-washy morality already owns the Democratic Party. This requires us to stand for the right, even if it costs votes. We have been sliding into no morality whatsoever for eight years. We have no choice but to part company with that and just maybe shock the country into a return to Christianity.
The country has been flirting with non-commitment for a generation and now despite several excellent and strong encyclicals from Pope John Paul II and a Constitution that is deep in the hearts of most of our countrymen, we still must overcome our slippage.
The trouble took flight when Pope John XXIII decided that the church needed to “open its window” to the outside world, get out of its cocoon and be in the world. I agreed and many, many others agreed that we did need such a change. What a cataclysm followed and still rumbles.
We are miles from our former Christianity in our lives. We need to go back. Pope Francis recommends dialogue! That’s still weakness. We need strength to recover — stiff upper lip! Morality, morality, morality!
It will be hard, hard because we have become used to compromise. Elvis Presley, rock ’n’ roll — an invitation to slippage in strict morality, the Beatles, and sexual intimacy outside of marriage becoming a common occurrence. We have slid very far, too far.
We absolutely need a return to “the good old days” of marital fidelity, of one man and one woman married in a covenant for life.
It won’t be easy, will it? But there’s no easy way to correct our failures. At 96, I have seen it all and have had enough.
George DegelmannClaremont