Monday, February 2, 2009

Would the New Stimulus Plan Improve Special Education Programs?

Stimulus Plan could Reshape U.S. Education Policy to a Stronger Fed Voice.
Saving jobs and programs could result in loss of state and local control.
The federal investment in education would more than double under a proposed stimulus package pending in Congress. It includes $150 billion in new education spending, which would change the federal government's role in education. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said the money will prevent hundreds of thousands of teachers' layoffs and money also will go to support early childhood education, repair aging school buildings and improve special-education programs. The pocket of money for disabled children would increase from the current $11 billion to $17 billion. The question is, what strings or requirements will come with this money and will it be what care-givers and educators deem best?
Read the article at the International Herald Tribune.
Taiwan News, I read Sunday night, where it was already Monday, gives us a glimpse of Obama's bi-partisan White House Super bowl party Sunday and the struggles in passing the stimulus package under intense scrutiny this week. This is an interesting article too.

All the best to you!

Lon

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3 comments:

Jillian at Zen Journey Creations, LLC said...

Hi Ron,
I was so excited when I first heard about the money that was going towards education, especially special education. However, to Republicans, one dollar spent on education is one dollar too much. Thus, once again education money was axed in order to get a compromise. I don't know whether it was axed all together (I'll hear the President tonight), or whether special education money survived.

To me, it's a no-brainer, the more educated we are as a nation the better we fair in technology, medicine, science, research in all areas...Why don't Americans understand what people in other developed nations have for centuries: Children, and the teachers that teach them, are a nation's best resources.
Jillian

I am so upset.

Lon said...

Jillian,
I have shared some new numbers - the best I could find to answer your question about where we are with money in the stimulus plan allocated to special education. We will have to wait and see what the House and Senate come up with and how it all pans out. I understand your concern!
Thanks for sharing...
Lon

Lon said...

I forgot to include:
See my new post for upated info - Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009.
Thanks...