Education

Special Education Sees ‘Historic’ Boost in New Funding

Lauren Rhim, executive director of the Center for Learner Equity, which advocates for students in special education, agreed. School districts need to carefully consider how they’re going to spend the money, she said.

Published

3 years ago

July 8, 2021

Isabelle Price

Lauren Rhim, executive director of the Center for Learner Equity

Special education in California has been showered with more than $1 billion in new state and federal money in recent weeks, enough to potentially transform a system that’s been underfunded for decades.

“It really is unprecedented and historic,” said Anjanette Pelletier, director of San Mateo County’s Special Education Local Area Plan. “The budget for 2021-22 holds amazing promise for students with disabilities. … It is an amazing time to be thinking about how to use one-time and ongoing resources to support students as we complete extended school-year programs and move into in-person learning in the fall.”

The state budget approved this week includes $656 million in new ongoing funding for special education, including a 4.05 percent increase to the base funding rate. The state also allotted $550 million in one-time funds for addressing disputes between parents and school districts, which are expected to surge in the next few months as students return to the classroom.

In March, the Biden administration set aside $122 billion for schools as part of the American Rescue Plan to help students, including those with disabilities, catch up after a year of distance learning. Of the total, California received $301 million, more than any other state.

On Thursday, the administration added $3 billion more for special education, with about $450 million earmarked for children ages 0-5 with disabilities. Identifying children with disabilities early and connecting them to services leads to better outcomes over the long term, according to a 2020 report by Policy Analysis for California Education.

As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden promised to fully fund special education. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, students are entitled to a free public education appropriate to their abilities, but the federal government has never reimbursed states for its full share of the cost of educating students with disabilities. Expenses can include services like one-on-one tutoring, occupational and speech therapy, behavioral therapy and technological devices that help students communicate.

Advocates were thrilled with the funding windfall, but cautioned that much will depend on how the money is spent.

“For this to be a game changer in California, it has to mean that all kids get access to high-quality core instruction,” said Sara Doutre, a special education expert at WestEd, an education research firm. “If it’s just more special ed — more separation, more exclusion — it isn’t going to solve anything.”

“If they spend it on things that didn’t work before, then it’s not going to have much of an impact,” she said.

To get the most out of their funding, schools should focus on placing more students with disabilities in general-education classrooms and training teachers to recognize and help students with undiagnosed learning disabilities as they return to school, she said. Many students, especially younger ones, may have disabilities that were not diagnosed during remote learning. And alternately, some students will be misdiagnosed as having learning disabilities when in reality, they’re just behind.

She also suggested that districts invest in “grow your own” teacher pipelines, recruiting and hiring local residents to become special education teachers. The shortage of special education teachers statewide has worsened during the pandemic, as teachers retired early or left for other professions due to burnout.

If spent well, the money could have a significant impact for students with disabilities and their families, she said.

“It doesn’t quite get us there, but it’s very helpful,” said “Am I surprised? No. The investment reflects the commitment the Biden administration has made to support students with disabilities. I think everyone in the special education community right now is saying, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’”

The state’s investment in special education dispute resolution may also have a big impact. During the pandemic, many students with disabilities fell behind because of the challenges of delivering special services virtually. At the same time, some districts have been slow to assess students who might be eligible for special education or need their learning plans updated, leading to a huge backlog in some districts.

Denise Marshall, chief executive of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, said the funding boost should ease some tensions between families and school districts in the wake of the pandemic.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has placed a tremendous and unprecedented strain on schools, districts, educators, families and students,” she said. “While many of (our) members report that districts are striving to work collaboratively with families to educate students during this challenging time, we also know too many families are not being offered options that meet the full requirements of federal law.”

Isabelle Price

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Activism

Self-eSTEM Empowers BIPOC Women, Girls in Science, Math

In January 2025, Self-eSTEM will launch digital and generative AI programming, which provides digital literacy and AI literacy training through an entrepreneurial project-based activity. This programming will be a hybrid (i.e. in-person and online). Additionally, thanks to a grant from Comcast, in spring 2025, the organization will have a co-ed series for middle and high school students.

Published

4 days ago

December 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Adamaka Ajaelo. Courtesy photo.

By Y’Anad Burrell
Special to The Post

In a world where technology plays an increasingly central role in all aspects of life, the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education cannot be overstated. Recognizing the significance of STEM for the future, focusing on young women and girls is a critical step in achieving gender equality and empowering the next generation.

Self-eSTEM, an Oakland-based non-profit organization, was founded by Adamaka Ajaelo, an Oakland native who had a successful corporate career with several Bay Area technology and non-tech companies. Ajaelo boldly decided to step away from these companies to give 100% of her time and talent to the non-profit organization she started in 2014 in the belief that she can change the game in innovation and future STEM leaders.

Over the course of a decade, Ajaelo has provided futurist tech programming to more than 2,000 BIPOC women and girls. The organization has an Early STEM Immersion Program for ages 7-17, Emerging Leaders Workshops for ages 18-25 and volunteer network opportunities for ages 25 and up.

While the organization’s programs center on innovation and technology, participants also gain other valuable skills critical for self-development as they prepare for a workforce future. “Self-eSTEM encourages young women to expand on teamwork, communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills. The organization allows young women to enter STEM careers and pathways,” said Trinity Taylor, a seventh-year innovator.

“Our journey over the last decade is a testament to the power of community and opportunity, and I couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds as we continue to break barriers and spark dreams,” said Ajaelo.

“By encouraging girls to explore STEM fields from a young age, we foster their intellectual growth and equip them with the tools needed to thrive in a competitive global economy,” Ajaelo says.

Empowering young girls through STEM education is also a key driver of innovation and progress. When young women and girls are encouraged to pursue careers in STEM, they bring unique perspectives and problem-solving approaches to the table, leading to more diverse and inclusive solutions. This diversity is crucial for driving creativity and pushing boundaries in scientific and technological advancements.

Self-eSTEM has fundraising opportunities year-round, but year-end giving is one of the most critical times to support the program. Visit www.selfestem.org to donate to the organization, as your generosity and support will propel programming support for today’s innovators.

You will also find more details about Self-eSTEM’s programs on their website and social channels @selfestemorg

Oakland Post

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

1 month ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/PostNewsGroup
YOUTUBE: youtube.com/blackpressusatv
X: twitter.com/blackpressusa

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

Election Day Across the Bay: “Oh, Thank God, It’s Over!”, Anxious and Hopeful Voters Share Their Thoughts

Millions of people across the country stood in long lines and sat around their TVs waiting to see what the fate of the next four years would look like. In the Bay Area, college students, residents young and old, and hopeful voters shared feelings of excitement, but also a sense of dread.

Published

1 month ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

The Post visited polling sites and election night parties to talk to voters about how they felt after a whirlwind election cycle.

By Magaly Muñoz

Millions of people across the country stood in long lines and sat around their TVs waiting to see what the fate of the next four years would look like.

In the Bay Area, college students, residents young and old, and hopeful voters shared feelings of excitement, but also a sense of dread.

The Post visited polling sites and election night parties to talk to voters about how they felt after a whirlwind election cycle.

These reactions were taken before the presidential race was called and Donald Trump was declared president-elect.

First Time Voters

At UC Berkeley, students piled into a cramped building, Eshleman Hall, to cast their votes in between classes.

Outside of the hall, the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) were handing out free pizza and “Go Bears. Go Vote” stickers to students who proved they submitted their ballot.

“We want to make sure that there are reduced barriers to entry for people who may be voting for the first time or challenge themselves to get to the polls. We want to make sure that people are rewarded for being civically engaged,” Carmen Berry, ASUC student, said.

Berry, who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, said this was her first experience voting in a presidential election and she’s kept in mind all there is to lose, such as reproductive rights, should Donald Trump win.

“We need to vote for ourselves, and we need to vote for the America that we want to become,” Berry said.

Katie, a Business and Cognitive Science major, told the Post that being from California, a traditionally Democrat state, makes her feel like her vote doesn’t actually matter because she knows the results will sway Harris’ way regardless.

She’s also worried about reproductive rights, and the future of the Department of Education, a department Trump has vowed to end when in office.

“My brother is special needs. He’s on IEP and without the Department of Education, he would not have been able to graduate high school. So, for me, it’s definitely personal,” Katie said.

Long Lines at Oakland Public Library

At 6 p.m. on election night, the Oakland Public Library on 14th Street had a line of voters wrapped around half the building. People toward the front of the building said they had been waiting for nearly an hour to get inside and cast their votes.

Nakia White, an Oakland resident, said she voted against the recalls for Mayor Sheng Thao and Alameda District Attorney Pamela Price. She thinks the entire recall process has been a waste of time and money, though she acknowledges the recalls will likely succeed because of the big pockets backing them.

“I feel like the people who are funding [the recalls] are doing this so they can get someone in who will let them buy up all the property and raise property values, which means local residents will not be able to afford to live here, as we already can’t,” White said.

Mark A, a recent Oakland resident, said he voted for Harris because she fits more into the mold of the progressive policies he supports. Being Latino, he said that Trump’s negative rhetoric turned him off as a voter.

Mark said that if he had to choose one word to describe the current election cycle, it would be “chaotic”.

Election Parties Start to Show Loss of Hope

Fluid510, a bar lounge across the street from Oakland City Hall, started seeing trickles of voters in the early evening as they kicked off their election party.

The location was adorned with “Bay Area for Harris/Walz” signs and red, white, and blue decor. Patrons were giddy with excitement until voting results started piling in on the big screen around 7 p.m.

ReAnn Scott, a Berkeley resident, told the Post that watching the NBC coverage was starting to scare her. There was too much red, signifying the states where Trump was winning, on the screen.

But she’s enthusiastically said she’s glad the election cycle has ended. She’s tired of all the political messaging that’s been forced on people for months now.

“Oh, thank God, it’s over!” Scott said.

Over in San Francisco, Manny’s, a civic and political event space, hosted a block party with a huge screen outside on Valencia Street and a packed venue at their 16th Street location.

Speakers attempted to talk down the crowd as more votes started to skew toward a Trump win. Those in attendance had weary faces and conversations were starting to show doubt that Harris could pull through and win the presidential race.

“I’m just so pissed,” one patron said as the CNN electoral map filled with red state wins.