Officials with TennCare, the state run Medicaid managed care organization, have announced a pilot study [Download TennCare Pilot Study.pdf]
of the use of psychotropic medications in children to treat conditions such as depression and ADHD. The impetus for this study is that "TennCare has seen dramatic increases in potentially harmful levels of utilization, with unproven therapies", according to J.D. Hickey, Deputy Commissioner of TennCare.
School Crime Rates Down Significantly
A recent comprehensive study from the Department of Education and the Bureau of Justice Statistics have found that from 1992 to 2003 there have been major improvements in student safety in schools. The overall rate has dropped over 40%. The report indicates very low rates of serious violent crimes, but rates of theft, drugs and bullying are still widespread problems.
Wisconsin House Passes Autism Voucher Program
Wisconsin’s House of Representative in December 2005 passed a bi-partisan bill that was sponsored by Rep. Kitty Rhodes to provide $15,000 vouchers or scholarships to children with autism to go to private school or for treatment. Juxtaposed against this news is the ruling of the Florida Supreme Court on January 6, 2006 that struck down vouchers as being unconstitutional on religious and educational grounds.
Supreme Court To Review Arlington Central v. Murphy: Time For The Court To Show Us the Money !
The U.S. Supreme Court has accepted the appeal of the case Arlington Central v. Murphy. This case has been pending appeal for several months. The issue in this case is whether parents who prevail in a due process case can recover their expert’s fees and costs from the school district. In the underlying case, from New York’s 2d Circuit Court of Appeals, the ruling went in favor of the parents and the school district appealed. (download Murphy_v. Arlington Central.pdf)
ISBE Seeking Input on State Performance Plan for Special Education
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Department of Special Education Services is currently seeking input on the State Performance Plan, which is due to the U.S. Department of Education on December 2, 2005.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, signed on December 3, 2004, became PL 108-446. In accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1416(b)(1), not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, each State must have in place a performance plan that evaluates the State’s efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of Part B and describe how the State will improve such implementation. This plan is called the Part B State Performance Plan (Part B SPP). In accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1416(b)(2)(C)(ii) the State shall report annually to the public on the performance of each local educational agency located in the State on the targets in the State’s performance plan.
The draft of Illinois’ State Performance Plan may be viewed by clicking here . At this time, Illinois’ SPP includes the required monitoring priority areas as well as their corresponding indicators and measurements. Proposed improvement activities, timelines and resources specific to Illinois have also been included. ISBE is seeking stakeholder input in the development of state-level improvement activities and measurable and rigorous targets.
Individuals with comments or questions may email sppinput@isbe.net to provide input. The web-link and e-mail address will be available from October 21, 2005 through November 15, 2005.
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