beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov<\/a><\/p>\n(MADISON) \u2013 The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) is disappointed in yesterday\u2019s vote by the Joint Finance Committee\u2019s majority members to drastically lower Governor Evers\u2019 proposed funding in the state budget, resulting in less than one-sixth of what was initially proposed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hear repeatedly from all corners of the state the often heartbreaking stories about how the state\u2019s erosion in special education supports that come from more than a decade of flat funding is impacting students with disabilities of all ages,\u201d said Beth Swedeen, executive director.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom lack of high school transition supports that could equip students with disabilities for lifelong employment, to lack of staffing that results in bullying and other safety concerns, our public schools are in desperate need of a major investment in state funds to meet the needs of students who have additional challenges, but who can significantly contribute to Wisconsin\u2019s communities with the right supports.\u201d<\/p>\n
Swedeen points out that costs of special education supports have increased 65% over the last decade, forcing local districts to try to fill in the gaps because state funding during that time was stagnant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current proposal, taking the state\u2019s responsibility from the current 25.7% to 30% by the end of the two-year budget, doesn\u2019t even cover 1\/3 of the costs local districts incur for students with disabilities,\u201d Swedeen said.<\/p>\n
Swedeen said BPDD also is concerned that the Joint Finance majority voted to eliminate proposed additional funding for transition services that high school students with disabilities use to prepare for employment and increased independence in adulthood.<\/p>\n
\u201cTransition supports that provide community work experiences and result in paid employment can double the chances students with disabilities are employed after leaving school,\u201d Swedeen said. \u201cEliminating these investments really short-changes both students and communities that need equipped workers.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Joint Finance Committee majority also eliminated 22.7 million annually that the Governor requested for mental health services, which included additional funding for pupil services and community collaborations with mental health providers.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents with developmental disabilities often also experience mental health challenges,\u201d Swedeen said. \u201cWhen we talk with school staff, the need for additional mental health supports is one of the top needs they identify statewide.\u201d<\/p>\n
BPDD will continue to work with the legislature and the governor\u2019s office to improve the supports to students with disabilities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Contact: Beth Swedeen, Executive Director (608) 266-1166; beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov (MADISON) \u2013 The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (BPDD) is disappointed in yesterday\u2019s vote by the Joint Finance Committee\u2019s majority members to drastically lower Governor Evers\u2019 proposed funding in the state budget, resulting in less than one-sixth of what was initially proposed. \u201cWe hear repeatedly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3591,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","category-news","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t