You are a one Woman National Democratic Committee.. All of the things in this edition of your Substack is what they should have been circulating all along.
At the risk of sounding completely egocentric -- I'm pretty sure that if everyone did things MY way, the world would be a better place. I mean, we'd all eat frosted brownies every day!
Jessica, the federal government does NOT fund IEPs. In fact, the federal government covers about 15% of the cost for special education services nationwide. State and local sources pick up the rest of the cost. That varies widely by district, though. Districts in wealthy areas like T/E receive almost no funding from federal sources. In fact, in 2024-25, T/E received only $865,570 from the federal government for EVERYTHING—not IEPs, out of an overall budget of $185,722,336. Nor does the state pick up the rest of the costs. In T/E, we receive a tiny fraction of special education funding from the state. In 2023, special education expenditures totaled $31,405,643, while the state subsidy was only $2,600,284.
What the federal government DOES do is oversee implementation of the IDEA—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires that public schools provide a free, appropriate public education for all students who have one or more of 13 types of disabilities.
Apologies -- It was what Chris Hayes said, and I should have done more sourcing. I took him at his word. Nonetheless, I think keeping the DoE is a good idea. Thanks for all the facts.
I very much agree that keeping the DOE is a good idea, and its dismantling could be disastrous for kids with IEPs. The elimination of even 15% of overall funding could hurt many state budgets. More concerning is the lack of oversight at the federal level.
You remind me of a way old joke where a public speaker is praising the benefits of Communism and goes on to shout: "Comes the Revolution we all we eat strawberries and cream !" and some one in the audience pipes up in softer tone: "But I don't like strawberries and cream !"
The speaker shouts in response: "Comes the Revolution you WILL like strawberries and cream !"{
The old jokes are the best! I recently was talking to a co-worker, and it turned out that he had minored in philosophy. Sadly, he'd never heard of my favourite philosopher, David Hume. But I pointed out that Hume was an acolyte of Rene Descartes.
I was able to tell him my dad's joke about Descartes - who dad contended was a waiter before his other, more important careers -- he was arranging tables, and looking at the reservation list, and there was going to be a party of twelve -- he pointed and said "I think there for 1 a.m." (It's better when you say it than read it). You and your brother -- WHAT SENSES OF HUMOR!!!
I think you got it wrong. I believe th punch line was: "I think they're for 1 PM."
By the way, I now remember the Revolution joke was done by the old comedian, Willie Howard, who did it with a Russian accent back in the day.
I'm going to debate because "I think therefore I am" has no p.m. in it.
You are a one Woman National Democratic Committee.. All of the things in this edition of your Substack is what they should have been circulating all along.
At the risk of sounding completely egocentric -- I'm pretty sure that if everyone did things MY way, the world would be a better place. I mean, we'd all eat frosted brownies every day!
Jessica, the federal government does NOT fund IEPs. In fact, the federal government covers about 15% of the cost for special education services nationwide. State and local sources pick up the rest of the cost. That varies widely by district, though. Districts in wealthy areas like T/E receive almost no funding from federal sources. In fact, in 2024-25, T/E received only $865,570 from the federal government for EVERYTHING—not IEPs, out of an overall budget of $185,722,336. Nor does the state pick up the rest of the costs. In T/E, we receive a tiny fraction of special education funding from the state. In 2023, special education expenditures totaled $31,405,643, while the state subsidy was only $2,600,284.
What the federal government DOES do is oversee implementation of the IDEA—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires that public schools provide a free, appropriate public education for all students who have one or more of 13 types of disabilities.
Apologies -- It was what Chris Hayes said, and I should have done more sourcing. I took him at his word. Nonetheless, I think keeping the DoE is a good idea. Thanks for all the facts.
I very much agree that keeping the DOE is a good idea, and its dismantling could be disastrous for kids with IEPs. The elimination of even 15% of overall funding could hurt many state budgets. More concerning is the lack of oversight at the federal level.
You remind me of a way old joke where a public speaker is praising the benefits of Communism and goes on to shout: "Comes the Revolution we all we eat strawberries and cream !" and some one in the audience pipes up in softer tone: "But I don't like strawberries and cream !"
The speaker shouts in response: "Comes the Revolution you WILL like strawberries and cream !"{
The old jokes are the best! I recently was talking to a co-worker, and it turned out that he had minored in philosophy. Sadly, he'd never heard of my favourite philosopher, David Hume. But I pointed out that Hume was an acolyte of Rene Descartes.
I was able to tell him my dad's joke about Descartes - who dad contended was a waiter before his other, more important careers -- he was arranging tables, and looking at the reservation list, and there was going to be a party of twelve -- he pointed and said "I think there for 1 a.m." (It's better when you say it than read it). You and your brother -- WHAT SENSES OF HUMOR!!!