All 8,700 students in Cumberland's Exceptional Children's Program, including 3,300 academically gifted, have the plans. The training would be mandatory for teachers and administrators. Educators, administrators and parents get mandatory quarterly training for updates on assistive technology to help the handicapped. The first training would be held after the first nine weeks of the upcoming school year. The schools furnish parents a financial report explaining the local, state and federal funding processes no later than Oct. 1.
County commissioners increase funding for exceptional children's services.
The schools provide additional money to meet the needs of handicapped students for technology, extended school years and related services, including occupational and physical therapy. The deadline for the last three recommendations would be decided after parents receive the financial report from the schools. The committee the parents recommended would be made up of seven parents appointed by the Special Needs Education Center, four school officials, one school board member and one county commissioner. All would get training from the Special Needs Education Center. Committee members would act as liaisons between families and educators, address concerns of families, advocacy groups and educators and ensure that state policies and procedures are being followed.