Learning Through Our Journey

Earlier today, I posted about the administration announcing an additional $144 million in IDEA funding for special education.

At first glance, that sounds like a huge amount of money. Until you divide it by the approximately 8 million students with IEPs in the United States.

That works out to about $18 per disabled child.

Meanwhile, today the DOJ announced a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund connected to January 6 defendants, which they're cloaking as "being wronged by the previous administration."

They weren't wronged--they had their day(s) in court, some pled guilty. Video evidence of them assaulting police officers is readily available.

If divided evenly among the approximately 1,600 people charged, that would equal more than $1 million per person. (the full details on how many people will apply have not been released--but the message is clear)

And yes, this includes convicted felons. Almost 400 people were charged with assaulting law enforcement officers. (but hey, back the blue!)

Meanwhile, families of disabled students are still being told there is no funding.

We're told every day that there just isn’t enough money.

Apparently there is.

Listen, I need to call out a recent announcement from the wrestling lady.

She is proudly proclaiming, and news outlets are picking it up..... that she is sending $144 million in IDEA money to the states.

Wow, $144 million. For sure that's a lot of money. Or is it?

Assuming that the money is distributed equally--divided by 50 states, that's just under $2.9 million per state. (earlier I forgot the decimal point, sorry!)

I don't know about your state, but mine has over 500 school districts (not including charters which is around 100 I believe). So, if we divide 2.9 million by 500, we are talking about $5800 per district. (again, an earlier decimal point error had this way off)

In many states, that's not enough to hire even one special ed teacher or related service provider for one year.

Whooppeeee wrestling lady....whooopeee. Wake me when you do something meaningful, and not just what looks good as a headline.

Perfomative....but that's the MO of this administration.

Just a partial list.....
I'd add "because they are human and deserve to be included and I shouldn't have to tell you this"

Just days after the Houston Independent School District confirmed some special education students will move campuses next school year, the Department of Education announced it opened a disability discrimination investigation into Texas' largest school district.
https://abc13.com/post/19066381/

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