| |
This issue of the Journal of Special Education Leadership is dedicated to the topic of special education finance. When I was writing my dissertation, discussions about funding programs did not command center stage; rather, administrators, teachers, and parents were invested in evaluating the types of programs and services that most effectively would meet the needs of the students with disabilities. These types of decisions represented opportunity costs, where administrators and school board members were able to make choices about the level of funding allocated to support a variety of special education programs. As available revenues have diminished over time, we have seen the emphasis in discussions shift away from effective service delivery models to the availability of funds and the avoidance of litigation. With fewer resources, new tensions have developed. Fiscal choices have become more complex because the federal and state governments mandate services but have not fulfilled funding obligations. This has resulted in the need to use more local dollars to support district level special education services and created a tension between general education and special education. Educators, parents, and school board members have wondered aloud whether or not paying for these mandates is cost effective and the best use of available resources. While some would argue to reduce or remove the mandates that provide services to students with disabilities, this is not an option. One of the largest challenges for school districts in this decade will be garnering the resources necessary to support both general and special education.
Dr. Tom Parrish, the Managing Research Scientist at the John C. Flanagan Research Center of the American Institutes for Research, is guest editor of this issue of the Journal of Special Education Leadership. Dr. Parrish presents a series of articles in this special issue intended to challenge our thinking about the different facets of special education finance. The compendium of five articles is certain to generate much discussion and debate. In addition to these articles, Dr. Barbara Moore-Brown contributed a commentary for CASE IN POINT representing one administrator of special education's perspective on the current state of funding special education. CASE is very appreciative of the time, effort, and contribution made to this issue of JSEL by Dr. Parrish and the cadre of authors. The CASE Executive Committee and I hope you enjoy this special education finance issue of JSEL.
Mary Lynn Boscardin, Ph.D., Editor
mlbosco@educ.umass.edu
Table of Contents | CSEF Home
|
|