It doesn't look like tax credits for special-needs students will get state legislative approval this year.
As noted in today's article, legislation that would allow parents of special-needs students to get a $6,000 a year tax credit for tuition at private schools is locked in committee. Both supporters and opponents concede it's unlikely the legislation will be voted on before the General Assembly recesses this month.
Legislators seem to be heeding the state's education lobby, which uniformly has opposed the bill as being a backdoor attempt toward vouchers for all families.
Aside from concerns about the precedent that would be set, education groups have specific problems with the legislation itself.
Leanne Winner, lobbyist for the N.C. School Boards Association, said the wording is so vague that a special-needs student who has a daily 25-minute study skills class could be eligible for the tax credit.
Winner said the legislation would only benefit parents who could already afford to send their children to private schools.
Cecil Banks, chief lobbyist for the N.C. Association of Educators, pointed out that parents can work with school districts to get their special-needs children sent to a private school. (Of course, that's something that public schools fight to avoid since it can be expensive.)
Banks said the vast majority of special-needs students are going to be in the public schools so the focus should be on improving funding there and not encouraging parents to leave.
But state Rep. Paul Stam, the House minority leader, said the state saves money whenever special-needs students leave the public schools. He said the state could have a net savings of $7 million a year if the tax credit bill passes.
To try to ease the concerns, Stam said the $7 million in savings could be put back into special-needs programs.
Stam, an Apex Republican, said he's heard from a number of Apex and Cary parents who'd leave the Wake school system to take advantage of the tax credit.
Click here to read the proposed committee substitute for the House bill. Click here to read a financial analysis of the bill.
Comments
Bob The Au services in Wake
Fri, 07/04/2008 - 10:45 — vsheehanBob
The Au services in Wake are only as good as you think they are because of the teachers. The teachers in Wake are expected to do the job that most states in compliance with federal Special Ed regulations have many specialists to do. In other states with in Federal regulations have a speech teacher, OT and other specialist plus a teacher doing the job that AU teachers in Wake do. Yes, there are SP and OTs that see the Au kids in Wake but the amount of services the AU kids receive are expected to be meet by the teachers. Most other states have two OTs per elementary schools while Wake has on OT for three schools with the same school population. The teachers in NC deserve much more praise and pay then most other teachers in other states because of what is expected of them. Wake teachers not only accept their job requirements but also excel at meeting them. So please consider praising the Teachers with in Wake for helping the Special Ed kids not the school system. The school system completely fails special Ed kids and the teachers of Wake take up the slack for that.
If you are who I think you are, I love the schools you have built and only wish we had the money for them or were closer to the charter one. We just lost one of those outstanding Wake school teachers to one of your schools and although we are sad to see her go you have gained an amazing employee!!!
Wake which is supposed to be
Fri, 07/04/2008 - 10:30 — vsheehanWake which is supposed to be one of the best counties in NC for school services is so far out of compliance with Fed. Regulations for special needs kids services it’s laughable. The joke just gets funnier with Education groups saying the school systems will be hurt by allowing special ed kids to receive tax credits for going to private schools. The groups obviously care more about the educational system then the children. No one who cares about children would back the special ed services in NC. These groups better watch out because they are helping to set up the perfect storm. NC counties will soon find themselves in many Lawsuits filed by parents moving here who know what the special ed laws are. Washington , DC found itself in that position and now is court ordered to pay the tuition for students at high cost private special ed schools because DC’s special ed services were so out of compliance. Fairfax county had to set up an expensive ABA school to stop lawsuits from parents. So I would suggest these education groups should focus their time on improving the special ed services in NC instead of defending the school system or they will find they have help contribute to the frustrations that lead to the lawsuits that are coming in the future.
Good idea
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 10:39 — Bob_SconceWhile Wake County's reputation for dealing with special needs students is quite good (my Godson is autistic and in the WCPSS program), special needs programs in public schools are quite expensive, in part because the public schools are not really designed for such students. Most NC districts do not do a very good job. Giving them a mechanism to go to private schools which do a better job would benefit everybody: the cost to the public schools would go down, and their education would improve.
Blocking this as a backdoor to vouchers is dumb. If the program succeeds, then it indicates that vouchers may be a good idea. If not, then it would bolster the opponent's case.
gov's ed ideas?
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 09:17 — bigwinniehttp://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6243179
Circling the Wagons?
Thu, 07/03/2008 - 07:10 — kmisegadesThe Dems knee-jerk opposition to a bill that is a no-brainer shows once again that they are beholden to a handful of powerful government education hacks. Clearly they are scared of widespread dissatisfaction with government schools and their handling of children with disabilities. Nearly one of our five children in Wake County now attend a non-public school, double the national average. In short, the opponents of school choice are circling the wagons in desperation. Good work just the same, Representative Stam and supporters of HB 388.