Supreme Court Weighs Funding For Special Education This Week

This week the Supreme Court heard arguments on an issue being debated between public schools and parents of children with disabilities all across the country: When should public school officials pay for private schooling for children with special needs?

The case involves parents seeking reimbursement for their child's private education after a psychologist had diagnosed the child, "T.A.," with ADHD and other disorders and recommended they remove him from public school and place him in a private residential school. When T.A. was evaluated at school they agreed with the psychologist’s diagnoses but concluded that he was not eligible for special education under the IDEA because those diagnoses "did not have a severe effect on his educational performance."

Read more about the case in this New York Times article.

See also a recent post about pending Texas legislation that would provide private school vouchers for Texas children with autism and other disabilities.

Local News: Coverage of the Voucher Bills

The Houston Chronicle featured an AP article today on the school voucher bill debate: Proposals to give private school vouchers to children with disabilities provoked heated debate in the Texas Legislature on Tuesday, as educators, parents and lawmakers weighed in on the controversial issue (click to read)

Texas Legislation Update: Heated Debate Over School Vouchers for Kids With Disabilities

Today the Texas legislature debated two bills that would allow Texas children with disabilities to attend private schools.

Senate Bill 1301 by Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, would provide vouchers for students with autism and autism spectrum disorder.

SB 183 by Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, would create a broader voucher program for students with disabilities.

The Associated Press reports:

At a hearing on the bills in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, pounded on his desk as he berated opponents and urged them to "pray about" the families who aren't receiving proper instruction from public schools.

Proponents of the programs say private schools would provide better options for children with disabilities, such as autism. Opponents call the plan an unwise diversion of public resources and say it would strip schools of the ability to educate special needs children who don't qualify for a voucher.

What do you think?