Virginia legislators, like those in all other states, are facing serious and difficult choices this Fall regarding budget cuts to education services. Although cut backs and budget deficits are the realities of the present day, it is always the most vulnerable in our society who stand to lose the most when education services are cut. When I hear the talk about proposed cuts in school budgets, many have suggested that support services are the place to look, “because school support staff don’t teach in the classroom”. They are talking about school psychologists, social workers and guidance counselors; the very people who are critical to the coordination of educational services for children with special needs. Failure to understand this is a mistake.
There is no doubt that we are in tough times and that school boards will need to make difficult choices, but we can do this without jeopardizing the quality of education services for our special needs students. If we cut off the help or close certain doors, our history in Virginia clearly shows us how difficult it is to get them reopened.
Parents, educators, and child advocates need to be heard and legislators need to listen carefully in order to make creative and sustainable decisions about budget cuts in education services. It’s time for the legislators to be educated and it is not a time for political gamesmanship or a “quick fix”. I encourage all who care about the quality of Virginia’s schools to visit the website for the Alliance for Virginia’s Students to learn more about how to make your voice count.
