The roots are in a school finance and budgeting system that has starved general education programs. It has just become too hard for some communities to put the supports in place. The result is rapidly increasing special education placements. Children with learning difficulties must be able to get the help they need in the general classroom. We must look to federal definitions of handicapping conditions.
Vague definitions invite problems.
Strong program quality assurance guarantees will go a long way toward earning parents' confidence. We need an education funding system that supports high quality in the general program, buys prevention and does not continue to limit choices in special education to high costs alternatives. That is exactly what the Department and Regents' proposal attempts to do. Chancellor Crew has shown me that he has the will and heart for major improvement in the schools. Now the Legislature must give him the full authority.