The irony is that Hillsides has
its own school where the majority of our residents attend classes every day in
spite of the significant challenges they experience. Clearly, if the comprehensive
and individualized instruction we offer is not required for a resident, he or
she is better served in a more appropriate and less restrictive environment.
However, conversations with our “expelled” residents from public schools
convince me that it is a stretch for the local public school system to
adequately address their needs.
All things being equal, the
public school system attempts to address the needs of its foster care students.
However, education for children who have been traumatized is best provided by
teachers and other education staff who have a keen awareness of the emotional
challenges the students face. Most public schools systems, while equipped to
provide a good education, are at a loss to fund the many ancillary services
that are necessary to make education a successful experience for these
children.
Much is being written about the
budget surplus in California nowadays. Recently, the Los Angeles
Times weighed in supporting the Governor’s proposal to allocate
funds to education as a result of the surplus. A formula is being proposed by
the Governor that provides additional funding to school districts that serve “disadvantaged
populations.” The problem, however, is school districts are given the
discretion to use these funds as they see fit without safeguards to assure that
the funds will be used to address the needs of these “disadvantaged” students.
By any definition, public
education in California has been the object of draconian cuts in the last
several years. Certainly to the extent that there is indeed a reliable surplus,
funding should be restored to public education. However, I would be remiss if I
did not advocate that funds specifically designated to serve certain
populations should do just that.
It is bad enough that public
education has been woefully underfunded. It would only add insult to injury if funds
that are now being restored to the public school system short change the
students who need it most.
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