Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Pine Tree defends cool-down room - Longview News-Journal: Local News

Pine Tree defends cool-down room - Longview News-Journal: Local News

Should cameras be installed in special needs classrooms? : News : CarolinaLive.com

Should cameras be installed in special needs classrooms? : News : CarolinaLive.com

6-year-old with Down syndrome hit by 2 teachers

6-year-old with Down syndrome hit by 2 teachers

Principal's notes say teacher blindfolded girl - California State Wire - fresnobee.com

Principal's notes say teacher blindfolded girl - California State Wire - fresnobee.com

The Williamson Daily News - Parents concerned about in school abuse

The Williamson Daily News - Parents concerned about in school abuse

Parent: Bus Driver Threatened Special Needs Students with Duct Tape | fox4kc.com – Kansas City news & weather from WDAF TV – FOX 4

Parent: Bus Driver Threatened Special Needs Students with Duct Tape | fox4kc.com – Kansas City news & weather from WDAF TV – FOX 4

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Fox C-6 School District: Is Spending $3.3 Million on Sports Stadiums Appropriate? - Arnold, MO Patch

Fox C-6 School District: Is Spending $3.3 Million on Sports Stadiums Appropriate? - Arnold, MO Patch

Politics Aside, There’s No Debating the Scary Facts of Romney’s Tax Policy - COLORLINES

Politics Aside, There’s No Debating the Scary Facts of Romney’s Tax Policy - COLORLINES


On healthcare, Romney pledged to “repeal and replace Obamacare.” The centerpiece of his rollback is the elimination of the individual mandate, which requires all Americans to buy subsidized insurance. Bafflingly, in the same breath, Romney promised to maintain Obamacare’s “pre-existing conditions” provision, which prevents insurance companies from denying coverage due to longterm ailments such as asthma, autism or HIV/AIDS.
The problem is that covering pre-existing conditions is expensive. In order to pay for the added costs of doing so, the insurance companies themselves insisted during the negotiations on Obamacare that the number of people participating in the healthcare system be expanded to help pay for it. That’s one of the key reasons for why we have the mandate: it helps underwrite the coverage of pre-existing conditions. Without the mandate, there is no viable way to ensure that people with pre-existing conditions can get coverage.
Romney himself once acknowledged this fact. That’s why he included both the pre-existing conditions provision and the individual mandate in his healthcare plan for Massachusetts.
When Obama pointed out that Romney’s Massachusetts health care plan was the model for Obamacare, Romney said, “I like the way we did it in Massachusetts.” But in a strange move of mental jujitsu, the former governor, went on to deride Obama for taking Romneycare nationwide through Obamacare. What was good for the people of his home state is apparently not good for the rest country.
Romney had a string of additional desultory answers and skewed facts on Medicare, Medicaid and education. On the Obama administration’s key education initiative, Race to the Top, Romney said that he “did agree” with the program. However he opposes the $4 billion included in the stimulus plan that established Race to the Top and got it going.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Update: DESE says Lebanon School District compliant when it comes to special needs students - ky3.com

Update: DESE says Lebanon School District compliant when it comes to special needs students - ky3.com

LEBANON, Mo -- In June, parents of special needs students in Lebanon held a meeting concerning the treatment of their children. It was led by the Advocates for Lebanon R-3 Special Education. 

They claimed their special needs children were being housed in two trailers behind Lebanon Junior High School for long periods of time. They went on to add their students were not properly being integrated with other students in the school. 

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education visited the district September 28, 2012 and found the operations in Lebanon were typical of programs for students with disabilities.

They went on to add that it was clear students with disabilities were integrated with students in general education in a variety of settings.