Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Special Needs bill passes committee

Leftenant Governor Tate Reeves issued the following press release:


SPECIAL NEEDS BILL PASSES SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
 
Bill would provide education options for students with disabilities, part of
Lt. Gov. Reeves’ agenda

JACKSON – A bill increasing education options for students with disabilities passed the Senate Education Committee today, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said. Senate Bill 2695 now heads to the Senate for a vote.  

“Too many students with disabilities are trapped in schools that are not meeting their needs,” Lt. Gov. Reeves said. “Their parents deserve the chance to customize education to their child when their school is not working for them.”

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nancy Collins, R-Tupelo, moved forward during National School Choice Week, which highlights efforts around the country to give parents more choice in their children’s education.  
 
SB 2695 would allow parents to use state funds as a scholarship to attend a school that best addresses their child’s needs. Many Mississippi schools have struggled to meet the academic needs of students with disabilities. Currently, slightly more than 20 percent of special needs students graduate from high school.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Feel good legislation, but now we'll have people scrambling to be designated as special needs, just like people aspire to get special parking permits. Where will it stop?

Any by the way, if a public school that is connected to both the federal and state teet is not meeting the special needs of a student, there is no way a private school is going to somehow do it. This is just the hole in the dyke for vouchers.

Anonymous said...

2:11 - obviously you (1) haven't read the bill, (2) don't know a damn thing about what you are 'typing' about, and (3) like to bitch.

Big difference between 'special parking permits' and parents that have children that have special needs and cannot get a proper education for them from their 'assigned' public school. You obviously aren't there, and thanks to the grace of God, I haven't been there either. But I do have many friends that have had to deal with it - and I for one would strongly support allowing them to move their kid to another school - public, private, independent, or just making available private tutoring - if it would allow that child to get a reasonable education.

Frankly, most of the 'private schools' you degrade, are not in a position to provide the required education. A few are. Others might decide to get into providing the service if they had the demand - and yes, the voucher - to be able to support it. Tell me why that would be a bad thing for the state.

Burke said...

Right on, 2;48. Too many nattering nabobs of negativity on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Good to see that Tate is willing to work for good conservative legislation, even in an election year. Now let's see if the spineless speaker of the house will bring it out for a vote there.

Anonymous said...

4:45 - The "spineless speaker of the house" you mention brought it out last year and it was defeated (conference report) by spineless individuals from Districts with "strong-arm" Superintendents. Check your facts and pull up last year's vote on HB765.

Anonymous said...

[AND yet] "Burke" remains a loyal JJ reader!

Anonymous said...

Good to see that Tate is willing to work for good conservative legislation, even in an election year.

Really? Is Lt. Gov Triple-Chin working to get SB2690 out of committee?

Anonymous said...

Good point, 6:04. Do you think the speaker will bring it up again? These flimsy reps should be forced to decide who they work for - the superintendents or the people!

Anonymous said...

You will have fly by night private schools setting up special needs programs to collect vouchers. Any you will have parents in bad districts begging to have their kid tagged special needs so they can get out. Its the start of a voucher system. Madison County, get ready for a lot of special needs students coming up I-55.

Anonymous said...

Some public schools do a great job of educating special needs kids. Others, not so much. Hopefully this will pass and help those kids trapped in schools that aren't helping them.

Anonymous said...

When you read what is required to "mainstream" special needs students, very few private schools are going to be in the market to take these vouchers. They are strapped for resources as it is, can you imagine all of the cost involved for a tiny private school to meet the needs of one student that shows up with a voucher?


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.