Re: Re: Funding for ADD kids and...

[Guest guest]

Under IDEA children that qualify as special needs bring additional funds

into the school district. The ADHD label and other learning disabilities

" MAY " qualify a child as " special needs " for this purpose. Many children who

are labeled with ADHD and other learning disabilities are not considered

special needs students, participate in normal classes and activities, and do

not get the additional funds. However, schools often push for children with

ADHD and learning disability labels to get labeled as special needs

students, and in some school districts, the percentage of children with

these labels that are considered special needs is very high.

An additional source of revenue for a school district in a state like Texas

is for a school district to get their students who perform poorly on

standardized tests to be labeled with ADHD and other learning disabilities.

By doing this, the school district often does not have to count the test

scores of these children as part of their overall district testing averages.

The school districts then get to advertise their high average test scores,

which drives up property values in the area. Texas school districts derive

their revenue from property taxes, which are assessed based on the value of

the property. Properties are always assessed at a higher rate, resulting in

higher taxes to the school district, in the areas in which school districts

have shown higher standardized test scores. Scores go up if the poor test

takers do not count against the school district average, on the basis of

disability labels.

So, there are always a couple of ways to manipulate the use of disability

labels to equate to income for a school district. The question is whether or

not an individual school district decides to participate in these methods.

In Texas in late 2003, we were given a copy of an email from one rich Austin

school district, where they had decided to try to get 25% of their fourth

grade class labeled within the school year. That district was known for

manipulating the system.

Jim

I stand by my statement that schools are not given funding for putting

children on Ritalin as claimed by the glitter ( " The schools receive

$500 a kid for each one dx'd with some kind of ADD/ADHA. " http://

health./group/SSRI medications/message/17569 ) and

Starris ( " The school district in Rancho Cordova, CA, gets $873 in

federal funds for every child on ritalin. " http://health.groups.

/group/SSRI medications/message/17587 )

Those statements are not true. It is not semantics.

IDEA does not require that children be on medication to get services

or enable schools to order parents to give their children drugs. In

fact, the recent amendment specifically prohibits it for one class of

drugs, oddly the one under discussion. Nor does it say that any child

taking medication for any reason automatically qualifies them for

IDEA.

We have an obligation to be honest and not repeat misinformation,

something we are very critical of the medical industry for doing.

> > > The first time I heard of it, it was part of Goals 2000.

> > > ----- Original Message -----

> > > From: Sara

> > > What I disagree with is the allegation that schools receive

> federal

> > > funds for every kid on a stimulant.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

Exactly, it's a downward spiral for the kids and the funding.

Jim

Exempting IDEA identified children from standardized tests is more

difficult since No Child Left Behind came into being. They keep

records on IDEA identified children as well as non-identified

children. Only 1% of the students can be exempted from NCLB testing.

State testing laws differ from state to state as does state funding.

Generally, the money received from the federal government no where

near reaches the level of expenditures for idenified children. The

paperwork and meetings alone probably eat up most of the funding, at

least in the districts which do thing according to the regulations.

(I lived in one that sent prewritten generic IEPs home with kids and

promised pizza parties if they got their parents to sign them as

written and returned the next day with none of the required meetings

being held. Pizza parties are cheaper than having school personnel

spend their time meeting with parents.) IDEA is underfunded by the

federal government.

However, after years of reading multiple internet boards where parents

of IDEA identified children post, I have to say that I believe that

many of the children with the most expensive accomodations -- often

special schools including residental treatment -- and most expensive

administrative expenses -- due process hearings, mediation, multiple

IEP meetings every year, detailed psychological testing -- are for

children who are taking antidepressants and stimulants, children whose

identified disabilties seem to get worse the longer they are in

treatment. [sarcasm] Hmmmmmmmm. I wonder why????? [/sarcasm]

Trying to get kids IDEA identified with alleged ADHD, then placed on

stims to make them passive in the regualar classroom without expensive

accomodations might seem like an easy way to rake in extra money from

the feds. But in the long run, the slippery slope they will start

down by triggering additional behavioral problems when they give those

kids stims is going to use up more funding than they receive. It will

take just one kid being triggered in behavior that lands him in a RTC

or alternative placement to eat up all the extra few hundred dollars

they get for each kid the get labeled ADHD.

> > > > The first time I heard of it, it was part of Goals 2000.

> > > > ----- Original Message -----

> > > > From: Sara

> > > > What I disagree with is the allegation that schools receive

> > federal

> > > > funds for every kid on a stimulant.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Exactly, it's a downward spiral for the kids and the funding.

Jim

Exempting IDEA identified children from standardized tests is more

difficult since No Child Left Behind came into being. They keep

records on IDEA identified children as well as non-identified

children. Only 1% of the students can be exempted from NCLB testing.

State testing laws differ from state to state as does state funding.

Generally, the money received from the federal government no where

near reaches the level of expenditures for idenified children. The

paperwork and meetings alone probably eat up most of the funding, at

least in the districts which do thing according to the regulations.

(I lived in one that sent prewritten generic IEPs home with kids and

promised pizza parties if they got their parents to sign them as

written and returned the next day with none of the required meetings

being held. Pizza parties are cheaper than having school personnel

spend their time meeting with parents.) IDEA is underfunded by the

federal government.

However, after years of reading multiple internet boards where parents

of IDEA identified children post, I have to say that I believe that

many of the children with the most expensive accomodations -- often

special schools including residental treatment -- and most expensive

administrative expenses -- due process hearings, mediation, multiple

IEP meetings every year, detailed psychological testing -- are for

children who are taking antidepressants and stimulants, children whose

identified disabilties seem to get worse the longer they are in

treatment. [sarcasm] Hmmmmmmmm. I wonder why????? [/sarcasm]

Trying to get kids IDEA identified with alleged ADHD, then placed on

stims to make them passive in the regualar classroom without expensive

accomodations might seem like an easy way to rake in extra money from

the feds. But in the long run, the slippery slope they will start

down by triggering additional behavioral problems when they give those

kids stims is going to use up more funding than they receive. It will

take just one kid being triggered in behavior that lands him in a RTC

or alternative placement to eat up all the extra few hundred dollars

they get for each kid the get labeled ADHD.

> > > > The first time I heard of it, it was part of Goals 2000.

> > > > ----- Original Message -----

> > > > From: Sara

> > > > What I disagree with is the allegation that schools receive

> > federal

> > > > funds for every kid on a stimulant.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

[Guest guest]

Not completely true,

Children can be targeted by schools to receive funding, it depends on the

schools

and I have seen the documents, as stated earlier, that showed schools were

doing

just that. It's true that many schools don't do that. But I know many

schools do.

You are telling me that what I have seen is incorrect, sorry but I have seen

what

I have seen.

Maybe this link will help to clear things up

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/add_adhd/ael_legal.html

State education agencies (SEAs) have oversight responsibility for special

education. **TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER IDEA**, SEAs must demonstrate

to the U. S. Secretary of Education that the following eligibility

requirements are met:

a.. state policy must provide all disabled children the right to a free

appropriate public education,

b.. the state must submit a plan detailing policies and procedures to

assure that federal funds are spent in ways consistent with IDEA,

c.. the state plan must contain procedural safeguards as specified in

IDEA,

d.. the state plan must assure that special education students are

educated in regular classrooms to the extent possible, and

e.. the state plan must assure that testing and evaluation materials and

procedures are not culturally or racially biased.5

Jim

No Jim, IDEA identified kids will not have the push to be drugged.

Kids identified through educational laws will be served, i.e. have

Occupational

Therapy (the best way to train other parts of the brain to do the processing

not normally done in ADD brain) Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Resource

Room

help part of the day, or a Contained Class. If a child is identified it

costs everyone money. Therefore the push for the school system is not to

identify the kids, but just get by having their parents medicate them. If

you have

good people in schools doing a good job, they will not push just for

Ritalin.

This push usually comes from regular classroom teachers, or school

counselor,

or principal who do not want to access special services for the child.

Again, it is cheaper for the school just to get by with Ritalin, and

not serve the educational needs of the child. Sweep it under the rug so to

speak.

The best thing for the child is a complete comprehensive evaluation

and services most appropriate for the child, in the setting that allows the

child to learn the most.

[Guest guest]

Not completely true,

Children can be targeted by schools to receive funding, it depends on the

schools

and I have seen the documents, as stated earlier, that showed schools were

doing

just that. It's true that many schools don't do that. But I know many

schools do.

You are telling me that what I have seen is incorrect, sorry but I have seen

what

I have seen.

Maybe this link will help to clear things up

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/add_adhd/ael_legal.html

State education agencies (SEAs) have oversight responsibility for special

education. **TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER IDEA**, SEAs must demonstrate

to the U. S. Secretary of Education that the following eligibility

requirements are met:

a.. state policy must provide all disabled children the right to a free

appropriate public education,

b.. the state must submit a plan detailing policies and procedures to

assure that federal funds are spent in ways consistent with IDEA,

c.. the state plan must contain procedural safeguards as specified in

IDEA,

d.. the state plan must assure that special education students are

educated in regular classrooms to the extent possible, and

e.. the state plan must assure that testing and evaluation materials and

procedures are not culturally or racially biased.5

Jim

No Jim, IDEA identified kids will not have the push to be drugged.

Kids identified through educational laws will be served, i.e. have

Occupational

Therapy (the best way to train other parts of the brain to do the processing

not normally done in ADD brain) Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Resource

Room

help part of the day, or a Contained Class. If a child is identified it

costs everyone money. Therefore the push for the school system is not to

identify the kids, but just get by having their parents medicate them. If

you have

good people in schools doing a good job, they will not push just for

Ritalin.

This push usually comes from regular classroom teachers, or school

counselor,

or principal who do not want to access special services for the child.

Again, it is cheaper for the school just to get by with Ritalin, and

not serve the educational needs of the child. Sweep it under the rug so to

speak.

The best thing for the child is a complete comprehensive evaluation

and services most appropriate for the child, in the setting that allows the

child to learn the most.

[Guest guest]

Not completely true,

Children can be targeted by schools to receive funding, it depends on the

schools

and I have seen the documents, as stated earlier, that showed schools were

doing

just that. It's true that many schools don't do that. But I know many

schools do.

You are telling me that what I have seen is incorrect, sorry but I have seen

what

I have seen.

Maybe this link will help to clear things up

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/add_adhd/ael_legal.html

State education agencies (SEAs) have oversight responsibility for special

education. **TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER IDEA**, SEAs must demonstrate

to the U. S. Secretary of Education that the following eligibility

requirements are met:

a.. state policy must provide all disabled children the right to a free

appropriate public education,

b.. the state must submit a plan detailing policies and procedures to

assure that federal funds are spent in ways consistent with IDEA,

c.. the state plan must contain procedural safeguards as specified in

IDEA,

d.. the state plan must assure that special education students are

educated in regular classrooms to the extent possible, and

e.. the state plan must assure that testing and evaluation materials and

procedures are not culturally or racially biased.5

Jim

No Jim, IDEA identified kids will not have the push to be drugged.

Kids identified through educational laws will be served, i.e. have

Occupational

Therapy (the best way to train other parts of the brain to do the processing

not normally done in ADD brain) Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Resource

Room

help part of the day, or a Contained Class. If a child is identified it

costs everyone money. Therefore the push for the school system is not to

identify the kids, but just get by having their parents medicate them. If

you have

good people in schools doing a good job, they will not push just for

Ritalin.

This push usually comes from regular classroom teachers, or school

counselor,

or principal who do not want to access special services for the child.

Again, it is cheaper for the school just to get by with Ritalin, and

not serve the educational needs of the child. Sweep it under the rug so to

speak.

The best thing for the child is a complete comprehensive evaluation

and services most appropriate for the child, in the setting that allows the

child to learn the most.

[Guest guest]

Not completely true,

Children can be targeted by schools to receive funding, it depends on the

schools

and I have seen the documents, as stated earlier, that showed schools were

doing

just that. It's true that many schools don't do that. But I know many

schools do.

You are telling me that what I have seen is incorrect, sorry but I have seen

what

I have seen.

Maybe this link will help to clear things up

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/add_adhd/ael_legal.html

State education agencies (SEAs) have oversight responsibility for special

education. **TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER IDEA**, SEAs must demonstrate

to the U. S. Secretary of Education that the following eligibility

requirements are met:

a.. state policy must provide all disabled children the right to a free

appropriate public education,

b.. the state must submit a plan detailing policies and procedures to

assure that federal funds are spent in ways consistent with IDEA,

c.. the state plan must contain procedural safeguards as specified in

IDEA,

d.. the state plan must assure that special education students are

educated in regular classrooms to the extent possible, and

e.. the state plan must assure that testing and evaluation materials and

procedures are not culturally or racially biased.5

Jim

No Jim, IDEA identified kids will not have the push to be drugged.

Kids identified through educational laws will be served, i.e. have

Occupational

Therapy (the best way to train other parts of the brain to do the processing

not normally done in ADD brain) Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Resource

Room

help part of the day, or a Contained Class. If a child is identified it

costs everyone money. Therefore the push for the school system is not to

identify the kids, but just get by having their parents medicate them. If

you have

good people in schools doing a good job, they will not push just for

Ritalin.

This push usually comes from regular classroom teachers, or school

counselor,

or principal who do not want to access special services for the child.

Again, it is cheaper for the school just to get by with Ritalin, and

not serve the educational needs of the child. Sweep it under the rug so to

speak.

The best thing for the child is a complete comprehensive evaluation

and services most appropriate for the child, in the setting that allows the

child to learn the most.