Washington State IDEA Council
"Children should be educated and instructed in the principals of freedom"~
John Adams
Imagine A Transformed Public Education Where...
Students with unique needs seeking educational benefit in a transformed public education system, shall be defined by their strengths, not their labels or funding source...
...Where...
Walls that seperate students, teachers and parents from what is called general and regular education are torn down. Imagine school activities and communities that exist for everyone and there is no division between students and students with unique needs...
...Where...
Administration takes responsibility for ALL student's needs regardless of the funding stream , in a holistic manner , so that ALL students benefit from system resources...
Remember that you pay taxes like everyone else, the only difference is that your student is pulling in more revenue than any other student and helping to significantly increase levy monies due to the federal funding the district receives. The problem is that most districts use less basic ed allocation dollars for students on IEP's than all other students. Students with unique education needs do not need to prove they are worthy to participate in the school system and whole school activities and we encourage parents to:
- sign up for pta instead of joining a special ed advisory
- find out about school-wide activities (assemblies, field trips) and make sure your child has access to them--accommodations can be arranged
- sign up as a volunteer for the school in general activities
- show up and participate at school board meetings
- sign up for clubs/groups of interest and encourage your student to do same & worry about the accommodations later
- don't use the short bus unless your child needs it