| As in other states, Michigan schools are | | | | over special educational services. There were |
| seeing more and more parents of disabled | | | | only 77 such complaints just nine years ago. |
| children pulling them out of public schools, | | | | Though most cases are resolved before ever |
| providing alternative private education, and | | | | going to a hearing, the Michigan schools are |
| then suing the Michigan Schools to foot the | | | | seeing more and more parents pulling their |
| bill. It has become a problem and growing | | | | special needs children out of the public |
| expense for public schools across the nation, | | | | schools first, providing alternative |
| ever since the passing of the federal | | | | education, and then suing the Michigan |
| Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, | | | | schools' districts for compensation. |
| which states that public schools are required | | | | |
| to provide special education students with a | | | | Some cases do not even involve services that |
| free, appropriate public education. Disputes | | | | the Michigan schools are obligated to |
| arise when parents and school administrators | | | | provide. One family with an autistic |
| are in conflict over what is appropriate. | | | | 12-year-old, for instance, was told by their |
| | | | doctor that their son needed several hours |
| The Michigan Schools recently had its | | | | each week of speech therapy. They wanted the |
| Birmingham school district sued by parents of | | | | Michigan schools to provide this, but they |
| a 17-year-old son with bipolar, obsessive | | | | offered 40 minutes each week, though they |
| compulsive and Asperger's disorders, as well | | | | were not obligated by law to provide any such |
| as other impairments. Andrew's condition has | | | | services. The parents then went to their |
| become more serious in recent years, though | | | | insurance company, which paid for some of the |
| Andrew's daily regimen of pills control his | | | | therapy, as well. |
| otherwise violent and uncontrollable | | | | |
| episodes. | | | | The Lipsitt case was recently settled by a |
| | | | state administrative law judge, who ruled in |
| His parents believed he would be better | | | | favor of the Lipsitt family. Judge Lauren |
| educated at home with one-on-one instruction, | | | | Harkness ordered the Michigan schools |
| where there would be few distractions. Andrew | | | | Birmingham district to pay for more than two |
| had attended Groves High School in Franklin; | | | | years of homebound special education, stating |
| however, his parents took it upon themselves | | | | that the district denied Andrew a free and |
| to pull him out and provide his education at | | | | appropriate public education. The district |
| home through private teachers. | | | | may appeal the ruling. |
| | | | |
| Michigan schools officials in the Birmingham | | | | It is not that these children do not deserve |
| district believe that Andrew would do better | | | | these services - they do; however, the |
| being educated at the high school with other | | | | Michigan schools have a limited budget to |
| students, where he could improve his social | | | | cover such services for all of the 242,000 |
| skills. The dispute between parents and | | | | special needs children. As the number of such |
| Michigan schools administrators became a | | | | children rises, so does the state and federal |
| legal battle, with the parents seeking | | | | contributions to each school; however, the |
| compensation of $113,000 to pay for the | | | | current $723 million is not enough to cover |
| at-home private teachers and therapists for | | | | the in-school costs of special education, as |
| the past three years, as well as to cover | | | | well as the expenses incurred by parents who |
| these same expenses for one additional year. | | | | make alternative educational arrangements |
| | | | (usually private and expensive). |
| The Michigan schools district in Birmingham | | | | |
| charged that they had provided the Lipsitt | | | | There is no doubt that, as a society, we need |
| boy with appropriate educational | | | | to provide an appropriate education for |
| opportunities by shortening his school week | | | | special needs children. To do so, without |
| and providing classes with opportunities for | | | | hurting other children (including those with |
| him to learn to socialize (some in regular | | | | special needs who attend public school), the |
| classroom settings). They made numerous | | | | Michigan schools and other public school |
| attempts to create a special educational | | | | systems across the nation must develop a |
| program for Andrew, all of which were | | | | better method of communicating and working |
| rejected by his parents, who wanted him home | | | | with the parents of special needs children, |
| schooled. | | | | the community and government. Better funding |
| | | | and guidelines must exist for the schools, as |
| This is not the first such case for the | | | | well as other funding opportunities for such |
| Michigan schools that currently have 242,000 | | | | parents to provide non-educational services |
| students, who receive special educational | | | | needed for their children. Otherwise, the |
| services, and the number is growing each | | | | public schools will be bankrupt paying for |
| year. In the 2005-2006 school year, the | | | | expensive educations and services for only a |
| Michigan schools saw 110 formal complaints | | | | few. |