Monday night, Spotsylvania County Public Schools learned that a federally funded research project that benefited 91 students and paid the salaries of five teachers was terminated.
Everyone is Spotsylvania needs to ask every member of the school board and board of supervisors this:
What is your plan to ensure kids receive transition supports? What actions will you take to fill this gap?
Today it’s 91 kids who have had a promise broken. Tomorrow that number could be higher.
Next, yall need to ask every single candidate running for School board and Board of Supervisors.
Virginia still has the obligation to make sure every child has a free and fair education. They are still beholden to Section 504.
But for how long? Because 17 states are suing to get rid of that law. And our current AG isn’t joining the fight to protect kids with disabilities.
2025 is an election year, friends. Get it together and know that the kids in our community and state need you to do more than shake your heads in disbelief.
This is bigger than 91 kids who just had a promise broken and 5 adults lost their jobs.
That's 91 students in Spotsylvania. How many across the Commonwealth or the Nation? That's only one program for high school special needs students. How many more will be affected? Do they even care?
I recently saw this article. @Marty Davis, is this affecting Virginia schools, yet?
'Charting My Path' appears to be a research project. Spotsy Co PS submitted their grant application to US DOE. The US DOE approved it as worthy of study and awarded the grant. Yeah SCPS-Grantwriting Team! So there's the 'control' group of students who are participating in Transition Services WITHOUT mentors? contrasted with the 'variable' group of students WITH MENTORS. The research questions: What happens if we provide mentors to this group of students? Will we see a difference between the two groups of those WITH mentors and those WITHOUT mentors?
Nancy and Mary Ann in this 'Advance' discussion caution us to watch: what is happening at the federal level does impact us at LOCAL level. The US DOE yanking these grant research monies is 'a test' to see what the pushback is going to be across the country. The DOGE under Elon Musk is also trying it with 504 Rehabilitation Act that protects the rights of people with disabilities.
We don't know if this President and admin will try to attack the civil rights legislation within special ed's IDEA that guarantees a 'Free and Appropriate Public Education to ALL', ages 3-21 yrs old. (In VA, FAPE starts at age 2 yrs old).
Parents and advocates need to stay informed. Follow the info coming out, even daily, from disability advocacy organizations, like free ADDitudemag.com. (you don't have to have ADD to read the info) to learn 'Is My Child's IEP in Danger?'.
Informed parents in Spotsy Co PS whose students participated in 'Charting My Path' still have recourse. They can request that their child's IEP be opened back up and amended.
Within the Present Level of Functioning, Parent(s) Input section: add in justification for this request: Parent(s) and their child (if child is over 14 years old, add 'and student'). requests that based on their child's current functioning and need for a 'free and appropriate' education that is 'individualized' for Transition services, that they continue to participate in the supports provided in the previous SCPS 'Charting My Path' grant study group but only for the 'variable' WITH MENTOR and at the same intensity and quality evidenced in this project.
In the 'Goals' section, your child's IEP may already have a goal related to 'Transition Services', such as a few found on website: "A Day In Our Shoes'.com (transition goals).
Then move to the 'Services' page to document the 'Service', the hours, the support (a mentor).
All of this may already be in the IEP document. If not, AMEND the IEP and add in this info.
Maybe Spotsy Co PS will choose to run out the 'Charting My Path' program as it currently was operating under the really needed federal support monies? In any case, now they're going to have to find a 'line item' in the special ed budget or through an emergency request by them or a parents' Coalition to fund the program with local monies.
Only the parents who have the energy to go through this advocacy are going to succeed in having their child participate in the same quality and hours, level of supports (with MENTOR) as was provided in the creative, individualized project 'Charting My Path".
It's a big ask of parents to do it. TO ADVOCATE. but you'd be amazed at the number of parents who do it v. the ones who sit back and say 'why didn't my child get to participate?'. "Squeaky Wheels Always Get the Grease!"
Trump, his admin, and the unconstitutional “DOGE” aren’t going after section 504 but 17 *states* are suing to get rid of the law.
The other 33 can file an amicus brief to fight to keep the law in place for all. Where are Youngkin and Miyares on that?
These people are banking on the rest of us shrugging and saying “oh that’s just a research project” or “oh, that’s just 91 kids” or “oh, that’s not my state.”
Doing that makes it easier for them to come after you and yours eventually. Too many in Spotsy don’t understand that. And far too many are okay with hurting a few as long as they can hate on anyone or thing that makes them feel the least bit uncomfortable.
Everyone is Spotsylvania needs to ask every member of the school board and board of supervisors this:
What is your plan to ensure kids receive transition supports? What actions will you take to fill this gap?
Today it’s 91 kids who have had a promise broken. Tomorrow that number could be higher.
Next, yall need to ask every single candidate running for School board and Board of Supervisors.
Virginia still has the obligation to make sure every child has a free and fair education. They are still beholden to Section 504.
But for how long? Because 17 states are suing to get rid of that law. And our current AG isn’t joining the fight to protect kids with disabilities.
2025 is an election year, friends. Get it together and know that the kids in our community and state need you to do more than shake your heads in disbelief.
This is bigger than 91 kids who just had a promise broken and 5 adults lost their jobs.
That's 91 students in Spotsylvania. How many across the Commonwealth or the Nation? That's only one program for high school special needs students. How many more will be affected? Do they even care?
I recently saw this article. @Marty Davis, is this affecting Virginia schools, yet?
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/dept-education-cancels-grant-program-st-thomas-special-ed/89-4e11c81d-1800-4d85-9b58-94f5b96206f3?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR32aX5crzxwdmPtmeyWv8HtjUR8PnSJkExnTaR8uyvE169NAMxJgRJc6O8_aem_ZY26TlpOAgp_qMr2epBB5A
I'm afraid that this is only the first of many impacts that we will see locally.
:(
I fear you are right.
Cost estimates for Trump's appearance at the Super Bowl are as high as $20 million!
I appreciate and support SCS, but voters pay attention!
My daughter, is autistic, and will not be receiving assistance from this valuable program. WHY am I hearing this first in a news article…?
'Charting My Path' appears to be a research project. Spotsy Co PS submitted their grant application to US DOE. The US DOE approved it as worthy of study and awarded the grant. Yeah SCPS-Grantwriting Team! So there's the 'control' group of students who are participating in Transition Services WITHOUT mentors? contrasted with the 'variable' group of students WITH MENTORS. The research questions: What happens if we provide mentors to this group of students? Will we see a difference between the two groups of those WITH mentors and those WITHOUT mentors?
Nancy and Mary Ann in this 'Advance' discussion caution us to watch: what is happening at the federal level does impact us at LOCAL level. The US DOE yanking these grant research monies is 'a test' to see what the pushback is going to be across the country. The DOGE under Elon Musk is also trying it with 504 Rehabilitation Act that protects the rights of people with disabilities.
We don't know if this President and admin will try to attack the civil rights legislation within special ed's IDEA that guarantees a 'Free and Appropriate Public Education to ALL', ages 3-21 yrs old. (In VA, FAPE starts at age 2 yrs old).
Parents and advocates need to stay informed. Follow the info coming out, even daily, from disability advocacy organizations, like free ADDitudemag.com. (you don't have to have ADD to read the info) to learn 'Is My Child's IEP in Danger?'.
Informed parents in Spotsy Co PS whose students participated in 'Charting My Path' still have recourse. They can request that their child's IEP be opened back up and amended.
Within the Present Level of Functioning, Parent(s) Input section: add in justification for this request: Parent(s) and their child (if child is over 14 years old, add 'and student'). requests that based on their child's current functioning and need for a 'free and appropriate' education that is 'individualized' for Transition services, that they continue to participate in the supports provided in the previous SCPS 'Charting My Path' grant study group but only for the 'variable' WITH MENTOR and at the same intensity and quality evidenced in this project.
In the 'Goals' section, your child's IEP may already have a goal related to 'Transition Services', such as a few found on website: "A Day In Our Shoes'.com (transition goals).
Then move to the 'Services' page to document the 'Service', the hours, the support (a mentor).
All of this may already be in the IEP document. If not, AMEND the IEP and add in this info.
Maybe Spotsy Co PS will choose to run out the 'Charting My Path' program as it currently was operating under the really needed federal support monies? In any case, now they're going to have to find a 'line item' in the special ed budget or through an emergency request by them or a parents' Coalition to fund the program with local monies.
Only the parents who have the energy to go through this advocacy are going to succeed in having their child participate in the same quality and hours, level of supports (with MENTOR) as was provided in the creative, individualized project 'Charting My Path".
It's a big ask of parents to do it. TO ADVOCATE. but you'd be amazed at the number of parents who do it v. the ones who sit back and say 'why didn't my child get to participate?'. "Squeaky Wheels Always Get the Grease!"
Trump, his admin, and the unconstitutional “DOGE” aren’t going after section 504 but 17 *states* are suing to get rid of the law.
The other 33 can file an amicus brief to fight to keep the law in place for all. Where are Youngkin and Miyares on that?
These people are banking on the rest of us shrugging and saying “oh that’s just a research project” or “oh, that’s just 91 kids” or “oh, that’s not my state.”
Doing that makes it easier for them to come after you and yours eventually. Too many in Spotsy don’t understand that. And far too many are okay with hurting a few as long as they can hate on anyone or thing that makes them feel the least bit uncomfortable.
Disgustingly cruel.