More Legislative Updates
From Mary Griffin of the Seattle Special Ed PTA:
SHB 2605 is a step backwards in Washington state’s efforts to make our education system more transparent and accessible for parents. That’s because this bill will make it harder, not easier, for parents to know and understand school district policies regarding restraint and isolation of students with disabilities.
Right now, for students with IEPs and 504 plans, districts must provide parents with a written copy of their seclusion and restraint guidelines. This is a smart policy because it helps parents understand up front the limited circumstances under which seclusion or restraint may be used with their children. Yet under SHB 2605, school districts would only be required to share that information on their website; if parents wanted a copy or an explanation, they would have to ask for it. Common sense tells us it’s impossible to ask about a policy you don’t know exists, and yet that is precisely what SHB 2605 requires of parents. The policy would only be discussed or provided to parents after a triggering event, or if the parent asked for it.
In sum, tucking seclusion and restraint policies away on a school district website is not a policy designed to help parents gain more information – it is a policy that will mostly keep parents in the dark.
The inappropriate use of seclusion and restraints in schools is an issue that has warranted national attention. Just last week the U.S. Senate released a report detailing how families have limited recourse when seclusion and restraint are misused at school. The report also addressed how districts often failed to inform families that seclusion and restraints could be used at their child’s school.
And here is a link to the bill w/ all the background info
Also to note, the "Breakfast after the bell" bill, SHB2536, which encourages expanded opportunities for poverty level students to participate in the free breakfast program in many public schools, moved forward in the House.
"HB 2536 establishes a three-year, phased-in process for providing breakfast. The bill provides schools with technical assistance through dedicated staff within the office of the superintendent of public instruction to successfully implement the model, as well as assistance through local public-private partnerships between the office of the superintendent of public instruction and nonprofit organizations knowledgeable about hunger and food security issues."
Only one-third of Washington State children eligible for a free breakfast access it. Reasons may be stigma and/or losing out on study/socialization time before school starts. With Breakfast after the Bell, breakfast is after the bell for about 15 minutes.
If eventually signed into law, Districts with "high needs" schools and plagued by low graduation rates will be encouraged (and eventually mandated) to employ the nutrition element as an additional tool in working toward raising student achievement.
Let your Senator/Reps know your thoughts on these bills via Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000 or click on the Find Your Legislator link.
SHB 2605 is a step backwards in Washington state’s efforts to make our education system more transparent and accessible for parents. That’s because this bill will make it harder, not easier, for parents to know and understand school district policies regarding restraint and isolation of students with disabilities.
Right now, for students with IEPs and 504 plans, districts must provide parents with a written copy of their seclusion and restraint guidelines. This is a smart policy because it helps parents understand up front the limited circumstances under which seclusion or restraint may be used with their children. Yet under SHB 2605, school districts would only be required to share that information on their website; if parents wanted a copy or an explanation, they would have to ask for it. Common sense tells us it’s impossible to ask about a policy you don’t know exists, and yet that is precisely what SHB 2605 requires of parents. The policy would only be discussed or provided to parents after a triggering event, or if the parent asked for it.
In sum, tucking seclusion and restraint policies away on a school district website is not a policy designed to help parents gain more information – it is a policy that will mostly keep parents in the dark.
The inappropriate use of seclusion and restraints in schools is an issue that has warranted national attention. Just last week the U.S. Senate released a report detailing how families have limited recourse when seclusion and restraint are misused at school. The report also addressed how districts often failed to inform families that seclusion and restraints could be used at their child’s school.
And here is a link to the bill w/ all the background info
Also to note, the "Breakfast after the bell" bill, SHB2536, which encourages expanded opportunities for poverty level students to participate in the free breakfast program in many public schools, moved forward in the House.
"HB 2536 establishes a three-year, phased-in process for providing breakfast. The bill provides schools with technical assistance through dedicated staff within the office of the superintendent of public instruction to successfully implement the model, as well as assistance through local public-private partnerships between the office of the superintendent of public instruction and nonprofit organizations knowledgeable about hunger and food security issues."
Only one-third of Washington State children eligible for a free breakfast access it. Reasons may be stigma and/or losing out on study/socialization time before school starts. With Breakfast after the Bell, breakfast is after the bell for about 15 minutes.
If eventually signed into law, Districts with "high needs" schools and plagued by low graduation rates will be encouraged (and eventually mandated) to employ the nutrition element as an additional tool in working toward raising student achievement.
Let your Senator/Reps know your thoughts on these bills via Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000 or click on the Find Your Legislator link.
Comments
I'd love to see a Breakfast on the Bus program as an alternative to this idea. Kids would get a cold breakfast handed to them on the bus each morning. Every kid, without exception. They'd eat it or trade it or save it for later, like kids do, and the same person that hands it out could help clean it up. For kids who don't ride the bus, there would of course be some available at school. Nobody misses school, everyone gets fed. This reduces the stigma (everyone gets one) and doesn't take class time. I realize that everyone getting a breakfast would be costly, but hey, we need to do a better job investing in our kids anyway--might as well do it in an area with clear research and support behind it.
~Kent Teacher
I think the point you make is right - we want children to be in school who aren't hungry.
That must explain its criminal inaccuracy.
With a 72% graduation rate, Seattle should be the LAST district to oppose the breakfast bill.
If he had put it that way would you be proud?
Our overall graduation rate is meaningless if you're talking solutions. Which kids aren't graduating and why? Is the time we serve breakfast a contributing factor? Does it have a larger effect than our choice of math curriculum? Larger than realigning school start times with teenagers's biological clocks?
I'm not saying the district is doing a wonderful job, I'm saying there's no reason to assume this plan is the answer.
There is no single answer.
From what I can see from the advocates, that's the point.
Ed