I am requesting your immediate help with releasing $21.2 million in federal CARES Act funds to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). For reasons that are unclear, the governor's budget office has withheld OSPI’s 10 percent share of the $216 million in K-12 emergency relief awarded to Washington.
That money is urgently needed by students with autism and other disabilities, who were especially hard hit by the three-month school closure. Most of these students had little if any specially designed instruction to meet their unique learning needs from March to June. Many students with disabilities were unable to benefit from the minimal (largely self-directed) online learning opportunities offered during the closure. In order to stop regressing educationally and emotionally, students with disabilities need compensatory services over the summer. They also need much better planning and leadership at the state level before the 2020-21 school year begins, so that their learning needs will not fall victim to the health crisis again.
Please write to the Education Committee leaders: Senator Lisa Wellman <lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov> and Representative Sharon Tomiko-Santos <sharontomiko.santos@leg.wa.gov> and attach the letter WAAA sent to Governor Inslee (linked below). If you're wondering what to say, try the letter below:
Good morning. I’m a resident of your district. I am writing to request your support for OSPI to receive requested ESSER (federal relief) funds for dealing with the pandemic. I understand that the governor is consulting with legislative leaders about this. I have attached a recent letter to the governor explaining the issue.
This is very important to my family, as my child has an immediate need to receive compensatory services this summer. In addition these funds are needed for better state planning to meet the needs of students with disabilities when schools reopen.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
All my best,
Arzu Forough
WAAA Letter to Gov Inslee 6 24 20-signed