Where Does The Money Go and How Does One Know

A wide variety of media sources are full of stories about the financial woes of school systems. Not enough money for this, and not enough money for that. In the arena of Special Education, it is the same. Try to have a discussion about Special Education finances with a high ranking administrator and see how long it is before they make sure it is stated that the District is "responsible for all children". I have been to events that promote science and never heard an administrator remind everyone not to forget that the District is there for all students, not just science students.

It appears that finding money for specific personnel within the District is easy compared to finding money for specific educational programs. Maybe it has to do with something like a leak in a water bucket where a drop is nothing until there are no more drops and then complain there is a water shortage.

Public Law 94-142 (1975)later to be known as The Individualized with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a funding mechanism. I guess since public schools were forced to take on the education of kids with disabilities in the mid 1970's, the good natured people who made this decision wanted to make sure that everyone realized that disabled kids were a hardship to everyone so they gave extra money for each one. This way, the disabled kids are always second to the trough because they have special papers to fill out and hoops to jump through instead of just showing up at the school house and receiving free money as a matter of course like the regular kids do.

And to add insult to injury, the Feds way back then promised 40% funding for the disabled kids. The highest figure I have heard trying to reach this benchmark was "less than 15%."
Because of this shortfall, it sort of feeds the belief that disabled kids really aren't worth even what the Feds say they are. If one studies the history prior to IDEA, there is belief that IDEA was a stepping stone towards attempts to increased socialized government. How could anyone turn down helping those poor pathetic kids that were not allowed at the public school drinking fountain? I unfortunately can not relocate the link that provided the names of the people, the course of events and how it was more about politics than education.

"For whatever reasons--compassion, votes, humanism, dollars--the handicapped are big business today, are political factors not to be taken lightly." Burton Blatt

For those who want to read how the funding is figured, click on the link below. Go to the last few pages and see if it is clear how the math works. Then ask "where does the money go and how does one know?"
USE OF THE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION MATRIX OF SERVICES