Hidden in Jerry Weast's budget documents is another blow to the special needs community.
The Montgomery Primary Achievement Center, which has provided quality early-intervention services for preschoolers with significant disabilities, including autism and mental retardation, is under attack by Jerry Weast. Last year, with no warning, the "Collaborative Autism Preschool Program" of MPAC was eliminated by Weast's budgetary slight of hand, and given the stamp of approval by Shirley Brandman and the Board of Education.
Now it is the main MPAC program slated for the chopping block. The MPAC program has served Montgomery County children well for over thirty years, and provided an important part of the continuum of special education programs and services for children whose needs exceed what can be met by a public school program.
CLICK HERE to see the You Tube video about what has been proposed.
Will the Board of Education allow this to happen?
This is outrageous. MPAC has been around for 50 years, and for the past 30 years, the county has partnered with the program and has referred students there. The program works, parents are pleased, students are getting the support they need -- why would the county throw all that away with no real plan, no coordination with MPAC? We can't let them get away with this. Email the Board of Education at boe@mcpsmd.org to tell them what you think about this "realignment" -- which is a code word for the dismantling of one of the best special education programs in the county and state.
ReplyDeleteI blogged about this at http://specialneeds08.blogspot.com