MASSPAC Exec Director addresses
Legislators, Public Schools Community in open letter
February 10, 2003 (Sharon)- The
Massachusetts Association of Special Education Parent Advisory
Councils (MASSPAC) represents over a half
million parents and families who, in this Commonwealth, are
unified in the desire and strong interest to protect our
Commonwealth's educational investment for all children,
including those who have disabilities and special needs.
As the spokesperson for this
association, I write as reductions in State Aid to cities and
towns cripple our municipalities and our school districts. I
write to ask for your help in preventing the looming financial
crisis from unraveling the progress that has been made in our
educational system and to ask your help to protect this most
worthy investment. This must include protections and funding
for special education and other educational mandates that
benefit children. Without this full support, the financial
pressure on local districts spawns an ugly environment of
stigmatization for our vulnerable students and their families
when school districts and towns publicize their inability to
meet financial obligations on programs that support them. This
occurs often because certain mandated programs, which are not
funded as they should be, require funds to be allocated from
some other pool of resources. When you have unfunded mandates,
districts have no choice but to get the funds from wherever
they can and this creates imbalances in our education programs
and pits one group against the other. Ultimately, it is the
children who are shortchanged and under educated because of
unfunded mandates.
Standards
have been raised to levels that are both appropriate and
highly desirable with the passage of Education Reform.
Performance levels in all areas have risen to meet increased
expectations and new mandates. Yet, many other mandates are
not fully funded and these continue to create ripple effects
across the educational spectrum and to erode any financial
investments and academic growth made. The state must meet all
its financial obligations, including those to the students who
receive special education services of any kind, and to at
least meet the federal standard in providing a Free and
Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
The standards promoted from
Education Reform have produced rich and worthy methods of
education: lower teacher-to-pupil ratios, smaller class sizes,
increased access to more technology and more professional
development. These have made a tremendous and positive impact
in the learning environment and opportunities in this
Commonwealth for all students, including those with
disabilities.
The State has done a good job,
thus far, but has more work to do. I would give it a B. The
state has recognized its responsibility to provide adequate
resources to ensure that these new standards are delivered and
maintained, in spite of the severe limitations on local
funding created by Proposition 2 ½. We encourage you to do
all you can in these challenging days and months to come, to
continue full local aid at the current levels and to fully
fund any educational mandates. The future of this
Commonwealth, its economy and jobs, is based on education and
the emphasis of providing a large and highly skilled pool of
workers to the businesses that stay in Massachusetts. Any
reductions in this critical investment will damage the
infrastructure we have all built so carefully over the years
and ultimately hurt us all. Though there are many worthy
programs that need support, the top priority must be the
future of the Commonwealth, which is dependent on the
successes and educational development of our children.
Thank you for your continued
support in providing all our students a good education.
Sincerely,
Suzanne G. Peyton
Executive Director |
