The need for autism education reform in Missouri (Part 2)

Taking Giant Steps

From the St. Louis PD Letters 3/20/08

Ulterior motives

I am the parent of an autistic child, and I oppose the proposed tax credit programs for the parents of autistic children. I oppose this legislation because I believe some of the people behind it have ulterior motives.

The nonprofit group pushing this legislation, the Children's Education Council of Missouri, is just another of many "school choice" organizations that are political fronts for the religious right. Jason Crowell, who authored Senate Bill 993, and House Speaker Rod Jetton, who pushed House Bill 186, both have strong political ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, the Missouri Baptist Convention and other religious groups that are hostile to public education. Most informed people know that helping the families of autistic children has little to do with these bills.

Nora Kelleher, who wrote "Special needs students will benefit from new tax credit program" (March 11), a commentary supporting the legislation, was identified as a development officer for Giant Steps of St. Louis. Her job is to raise money for Giant Steps of St. Louis; but at least she's honest about her agenda.

David W. Johnson | Overland

The author of this op-ed demonstrates that many parents ARE well-served by their public schools. The idea that the movement for more school choice, especially for special needs children is either a front for the so-called “religious right” or that Giant Steps’ interest is money. It’s an easy enough subterfuge, but considering I’m a left-leaning Democrat who thinks HB 1886 makes sense and has an excellent chance of making a difference in the lives of many families whose children aren’t getting what they need.

I believe that Giant Steps’ priority is helping special needs children, not making money, or else their founders would have created Giant Steps Bank or Giant Steps Real Estate.

But what about the parents who use Giant Steps?

Shari Kaminsky’s child is at Giant Steps, and believes the tuition tax credit will help families like her, and why.

"I hope that because of hearings like this, more people will begin to take notice of what's happening to the children falling through the cracks of the school system," said Shari Kaminsky, a mother of two autistic children from Kirkwood who testified before the committee.

Kaminsky's older son has done well in the special public school district, a government entity organized to deliver educational services to special-needs students. But she removed her younger son when she observed the system was not serving his needs. Since enrolling him last autumn at the private program Giant Steps, she has witnessed marked progress in his verbal and social skills.

But the Kirkwood mother said Giant Steps faces declining enrollment as special school districts have stopped establishing new contracts with private providers.

"Unless there is some degree of choice here, it means there will be no Giant Steps," Kaminsky said.

A toolbox-full

Last week, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran this story about a daycare bill that has been approved by the Senate.

“— The Senate on Tuesday gave initial approval to a program aimed at providing preschool for children in the St. Louis Public Schools.

Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, added the program to a bill that creates a quality rating system for day-care centers.

Smith's program would provide preschool for children in school districts that are not accredited by the state Board of Education, such as the St. Louis district.”

Approximately a thousand students would be served under this program, capped at $5 million a year. Half of the available funding would go to private organizations to contract with the public schools.

Legislators see this as a way to help turn the St. Louis school district around, and I think it sounds like a viable tool—one of many that have been proposed this legislative session now that three districts in Missouri are unaccredited (Wyaconda, Riverview Gardens and St. Louis City).

Studies have shown that students in day-care and pre-schools that focus on preparing them for school are much more likely to graduate and succeed. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen evidence that in poor-performing public schools that added benefit is lost when schools fail to build on those new skills.

Building from the ground up is a great idea, but there should be an equal focus on helping students currently behind, because they represent an entire generation that we can’t afford to lose.

One tool we need is the special needs legislation currently pending a vote in both the house and senate. Missouri families have little to no options if they can’t get the right response from their IEP teams. We’ve done a good job so far of responding to an historical lack of services for students with special needs, but with this legislation we can move that service from good to great.

By giving parents a choice about what education is appropriate for their child, we’ll be able to see the benefits of early intervention which is key in helping children with autism learn. We’ll see more students mainstreamed after targeted, short-term treatment, and countless other benefits in the lives of individual students. We can offer this aid to families with special needs children, and there is no reason good enough not to pass the scholarship tax credit.

Let’s add this tool to our educational toolbox!