Special Education District Reports

26 January 2005

Early Warning - High Expectations for Special Education District Reports

Group Special Education has informed us that the nationwide district reports on special education services are now completed and the national report which is to follow is near completion.

These reports will be with the Minister of Education David Benson-Pope by the end of January and we are told he is most likely to release them in February.

These reports have been prepared as a result of the out of court settlement of the Daniels case which required -

“Comprehensive district reports to be produced including parent perspectives of the adequacy and appropriateness of local resourcing; identification of gaps between resourcing and the needs of students; any recommendations for any changes needed in funding mechanisms and any recommendations concerning the need to have or maintain special educational units in that locality” We therefore have high expectations that these reports will very specifically address the chronic resourcing and targeting issues which have bedevilled special education since the implementation of Special Education 2000.

Because these reports will specifically identify the gaps between resourcing and the needs of students we have written to the Minister of Education David Benson-Pope seeking his assurance that these reports will be acted on immediately when the government makes decisions concerning the 2005 budget.

ENDS

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