CEC/CASE Release 2012 Survey on Impact of Budget Cuts and Pending Sequestration

Today, CEC and its division the Council for Administrators of Special Education (CASE), are releasing a joint survey of over 300 local special education directors around the nation demonstrating that the fiscal crisis continues to weaken districts ability to serve students with disabilities and the pending sequestration – across the board cut of 8% - will impact districts ability to educate all students at the local level.

In May, 2012, CEC and CASE updated their 2011 survey which examined the impact of the fiscal crisis. In the new survey, they also asked about the potential impact of sequestration.  The May 2012 survey confirmed local school districts are weakened by the past few years of cuts and sequestration will likely be dire.

If Sequestration occurs, survey results indicate:

• There will be increased strain on the availability of services for students with disabilities.  81% Agree
• Their district will cut funding for purchase of resources including needed technology.  85% Agree
• Their district will increase caseload. 77% Agree
• Their district will reduce professional development.  79% Agree
• There will be a hiring freeze and/or layoffs. Over 95% Agree

Read more about the survey here.

Take Action NOW!! Tell Congress to fund special education, special education research and gifted education! Use CEC’s Legislative Action Center – it’s easy, you don’t have to be a member and you can find your members of Congress quickly - just enter your zip code here. Take Action Now!

Comments

[Lynn Brosious]

It is so frustrating to consider how the irresponsible spending that caused our country's financial crisis is now impacting our most valuable resource... our children. Budget cuts have increased classroom size, causing increased strain on classroom teachers. If sequestration occurs and resources and services are reduced for our special needs students, all student learning will be further impacted and an equal education for all will be far from obtainable. I think this is truly a detriment to our education system.

[Peter Attwood]

There's always money for stupid wars and bankster bailouts. And districts, cry as they do, always have money for lawyers to litigate against parents, even when what is being fought over is a lot less expensive then the lawyering.