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