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But the severe/profound students... I just don't know.

Remember, their parents are being forced to pay into the system, too. Should their parents have to pay school taxes to foot the bill for all the fortunate, healthy kids to attend school, while their own kids are pushed aside?

I realize you're only expressing a thought openly - a thought I'm sure others have had. But it illustrates the logical conclusion of government funded education. As it grows and grows more and more expensive, they're going to start looking to cut it down. That's what the schools in my area are beginning to do.

I see it differently: Gov't-funded education to help with the severely and profoundly disabled is far more acceptable to me than gov't-funded education for healthy kids of highly-educated parents who should be able to foot the bill and/or educate them on their own.

But I don't want either. Schools receive more funding based on the number of kids who qualify for "special ed", and we know they jump hurdles to qualify anyone they can, including perfectly healthy kids. ;-)

I see it differently: Gov't-funded education to help with the severely and profoundly disabled is far more acceptable to me than gov't-funded education for healthy kids of highly-educated parents who should be able to foot the bill and/or educate them on their own.

I don't know...I don't know that you can actually call it "education". It's more like respite care for the parents or babysitting. I tend to think it ought to be separated from the school system, but that's just me.

As M0sby says, with some students there is progress, but with others, not really, and none is really expected because of the nature of the disability.

But I don't want either. Schools receive more funding based on the number of kids who qualify for "special ed", and we know they jump hurdles to qualify anyone they can, including perfectly healthy kids. ;-)

From what I've seen, that's a myth.

Frankly, I have seen a number of students who are borderline retarded, and the school refuses to place them in special education, saying that they are just slow learners. When you're within 1-2 points on an IQ test, I think it could go either way.

On the other hand, I've seen a number of parents who try to get their children placed in special ed. as ADHD, for instance, rather than just making them behave and do their work. These also tend to be the parents who threaten to sue the school if the students fail, even if it is because the student hasn't done any work.

Oh I hear ya both...
It is really difficult.

ToT...as far as those parents paying taxes too...you are totally correct. They ARE paying taxes...and it is a hard situation. Because even if NO ONE is learning...other parents (even of healthy kids) are getting free babysitting (if education is at its worst) for 180 days a year...and shouldn't they get to take advantage of that "free babysitting" too?
But, on the other hand...if you add up the amount of $$$ that is being spent on these 7-9 children per year...it is JUST HUGE!
I would venture to guess (with benefits) it would be close to a million dollars per year for 7-9 students.
AND, since they are qualified for special ed..they will be able to go to school for 3 years LONGER than regular ed students (until the year in which they turn 21).
Also, they qualify to begin earlier (we have a birth-2 program AND a3-5 program)...
So, conceivably, it could cost in the neighborhood of 20+ MILLION dollars to have these 7-9 kiddos in public school for 20 years..
AND...there is really NO POTENTIAL for learning at this level.
PLEASE KNOW that I am a big special ed advocate..and the trend is for all of these folks to be working adults who live as independently as possible...and SINCE they have to "live" somewhere post high school..I would rather have them leading productive and semi-independant lives both because it is the cheapest for us....AND the best for them..
(I hope that run-on sentence makes sense)...

So..it WOULD be interesting wouldn't it..to see what would happen if we all KEPT our own money...used the portion that we kept for choosing our OWN educational preference for our children..AND THEN special ed could be supplemented somehow (don't as me how though:-)

But that will probably NEVER happen because then the special ed students would probably be educated somewhere OTHER than in school with regular ed students..and THAT would be discrimination.
(ACK ACK ACK)

Anyway...I appreciate BOTH of your comments..and again..I just don't know.
But my gut says that a million dollars per year is too much for respite care (but ToT..I REALLY DO understand what you are saying too)..

Gov't-funded education to help with the severely and profoundly disabled is far more acceptable to me than gov't-funded education for healthy kids of highly-educated parents who should be able to foot the bill and/or educate them on their own.

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Government schools are a GREAT BIG entitlement to the middle and upper classes.