Fellow Concerned Citizens,
By now you are probably thinking about what you can do to divert the budget crisis that is impacting our children's education.
Voice your opinion to our legislators and encourage them to reject the Governor's proposed education cuts. Please take a few minutes of your time to read the petition letter by clicking on the letter link and sign the petition below.
It doesn't matter whether you have a typical child or a special needs child attending our public schools. The budget cut affects everyone and it's time that the federal and state governments begin to take responsibility for full funding of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(I.D.E.A.) and stop compromising our children's education.
Every child deserves a quality education. You can make a difference.
Thank you for caring,
Kathy Lin
President
BRS-SEPTA
P.S. Rest assured that all information you provide is kept strictly confidential for the purpose of advocacy only.
Dear Legislator,
The Governor's proposed 2008-2009 budget cut of $4.8 billion to K-14 will hurt all children receiving public education. I am writing to you to respectfully request your support in averting a crisis in education that this budget will cause.
Special education is already experiencing a major funding gap. The Individuals with Disability Education Act(I.D.E.A.) has not lived up to its promise to funding 40% of the special needs services. Instead, it barely supports 15% or less of the special needs cost. This along with the latest budget cuts proposed by the Governor has put the school districts in a difficult position relative to managing general and special needs funds, and continues to put all children's education in jeopardy.
Children with special needs represent some of our most vulnerable citizens, in need of care and attention; they above all others should not be the victims of a fiscal crisis not of their making. The proposed cuts in services for special needs children, along with existing funding deficits, represent an incredible hardship for special needs families, compounding the emotional stress they face daily in hoping to improve their special loved ones.
All children deserve an appropriate education in a publicly funded educational system. You can make a difference. Please reject the Governor's budget and help support full funding of IDEA so its promises to special needs children can be a reality rather than a partial dream. Give our children hope for tomorrow. The gift of education is priceless, and minimizing that gift for those who need it most will do real and lasting harm to our state and some of its most vulnerable young citizens.
Sincerely,
