Exclusive Gov. Strickland interview, Six Point Plan & voucher veto threat on SB 57

Many thanks to Phil Hayes of the Columbus Education Association for notifying me that the CEA interview with Ohio Governor Ted Strickland is now posted on the CEA blog. Kudos for a very nice job.

The Six Point Plan elements:

1. Strengthen our commitment to Ohio’s public schools and public education.

2. Modernernize education system directly linked to our state’s growth and prosperity.

3. Identify, build on existing school strengths.

4. Utilize the best teachers to improve instruction.

5. Provide personalized education programs that are relevant to the needs of each Ohio student.

6. Make testing and assessment diagnostic and prescriptive, showing students’ strengths and weaknesses.

On Senate Bill 57:

Senate Bill 57 would allow the parents of special education students throughout the state to get up to a $20,000 voucher to send their student to any school in the state— traditional public, charter or private.

Under this legislation, the student’s originating district would still be responsible for custody and maintenance of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) yet would not receive any funding to do so. The proposed legislation has received its sixth hearing in the Senate’s Education Committee, and could soon be sent to the floor for debate and a potential vote by the entire membership of the Senate. Strickland is unwavering in his opposition.

“Well, you know there was a similar effort made with the budget recently, and I carved that provision out with a veto,” said Strickland. “I’m not supportive of this legislation—it’s one more attempt to privatize public education with public dollars and public resources. I’ve been very clear with my attitude towards vouchers— public money should be used for public schools with public oversight.”

Governor Strickland went one step further, going on record for the first time ever as to what his actions would be if Senate Bill 57 survived the legislative process and made it to the Executive Office.

“If this bill comes across my desk in its current form, then I will veto it,” resolved Strickland.

Please read the entire interview article here.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:34 am April 28th, 2008 in 'Roots News, Law, Ted Strickland, Statehouse, Government, Politics, Education, Ohio, Blogging

Comments

8 Responses to “Exclusive Gov. Strickland interview, Six Point Plan & voucher veto threat on SB 57”

1 Matt N. on April 28th, 2008 11:03 am

What lovely platitudes!

I suppose the bullet points stopped at 6, because on the 7th day, Governor Strickland rested from all his work which he had made?
2 Dave on April 28th, 2008 4:58 pm

So Strickland is more concerned about the teachers unions than with children of special needs, big surprise. Why don’t we ask what is best for the child for once. The state has made a mess of public education and Strickland is proposing the same old stuff. I live in the 6th District where Strickland was our Rep. We have the worst government schools in the state, so it is not surprising that he has no answers for the educational problem.
3 kay mansfield on May 10th, 2008 9:58 am

I am all for the voucher being proposed !!!1
my son is diagnosed with aspergers, wich is a form of autisim. the school refuses to give an iep to him because his needs are social and sensory. because his grades are
good the evaluatin team marked him no disability. with no iep he can not get a
scholarship ,so he cannot go to an area autism scool and SURPRISE, the public schhol keeps his tax $,probably to use for sports and the new school building. so
unless we get 20,000$ to pay his tuition ourself , he cant go to the school he needs to .
4 Jill Miller Zimon on May 11th, 2008 8:41 pm

Kate - how have your appeals gone with the school on the IEP?

Are you in Ohio?

What district are you in?

Have you contacted OLRC? What about your county’s CSERC? Here’s a link to help you find yours. I hope you’ll come back and write more.

Which autism school? I helped get one started in 2000.
5 Amy Roby on June 4th, 2008 4:59 pm

kay
That was like reading my daughters history!
I have my daughter in Summit Academy now. I had to find this school and get her tested. The district I live in KNEW she needed help but because she was “C” average and passed those stupid OAT’s they would do nothing. I drive her to and from school and spend around $400.00 a month on gas because I live outside the “30 min. rule”
I tried agency after agency and they were either over loaded or agreed with the school (grades). Now I know she has aspergers, but I can not afford to keep driving her, with gas prices on the rise it is only getting worse.
These public schools can not educate our children but still get our tax money for their school. It is not right!
Any parent that has a child with any form of Autism knows the battles that have to be fought. Those who do not, can not begin to understand.
I have my daughter were she needs to be and with just one year it is night and day with her. I can not afford to drive her and the Ohio Department Of Education is unwilling to help in any way.
Some thing has to be done, parents should not have to struggle to have their children educated. It is the law that we must send them to school and the same law allows a child with Autism to be striped of their right to be educated in a proper mannor.
I could go on for hours!
Parents need help, the children need help and it is not either thier or with in reach.
6 Jill Miller Zimon on June 4th, 2008 5:17 pm

I’m sorry Kay never came back or commented again.

Amy - what district are you in? Where is Summit Academy? How old is your daughter?

I know an excellent special ed lawyer who’s done her work through a non-profit for years. She’s the parent of a child w/Asperbergers and he went to both private and public. Email me if you want the info.
7 Amy Roby on June 4th, 2008 5:28 pm

The school district that we are in is Keystone,it is in Lorain County.
Summit has 28 schools in Ohio and Massachusetts. They are AMAZING!!!!

http://www.summitacademies.com/

I always said every year that I did not agree with the IEP and was told that nothing more could be done. I knew about getting a second opinion and I was told that their was nothing that could be done, so like a stupid idiot I signed.
I also have a older daughter that this same school has done the same to. She is homeschooled threw ECOT and is on the waiting list for Summit. I also asked for her testing and was told no. I could not even get help with her even though she has a immune system disorder. So much is going on, ECOT is tring to do testing on her and all the signs are pointing to the fact that she might also have autism. Just because she is smart does not mean she does not need help!
If I can figure out how to email you I will. This is my first time on this site!
8 Oengus on June 4th, 2008 7:28 pm

What exactly does Rangel want, does he want here to immediately switch tracks and begin the endorsement? I had no trouble with her asking for a moment to catch her breath.

Perhaps he should have conferred with her before he addressed the press, conferred with Obama and Clinton or perhaps waited until they answered the questions or at least took some time to deliberate them. He is Chairman of the house ways and means committee, is that how he conducts sessions?

These people are government appointed representatives, its presumptive to say the people are waiting for direction. I do not like the presumption it makes; the party and the people and herself will direct Clinton’s role. That at this point takes time, not 24hrs she has to meet and discuss and adjust, what did Rangel want an immediate turn around, too much to fast.

It gets me a bit, what is he driving at that she will not support the party, that’s not even worth addressing. Her role needs to be defined and better to endorse the nomination if she is on the ticket than not.

Why doesn’t Rangel say he would like to see her on the ticket? I t would be obvious that her endorsement could rally some of her followers to vote, but that is also asking a lot Charles, that is his presumption isn’t it all Clinton has to do is command her voters to Obama…that is not that realistic is it. Some will follow her but she needs to on the ticket for many.

That is the decision at hand Clinton campaigning for the party under what context. That is not her decision alone is it hard to believe she would do harm she won 18% of the popular votes. Her not getting the selection for VP or her not accepting could squelch Obama. He has to ask and she has to say yes, with out that happening her endorsement will be weak and lacking in effectiveness.