Sept 18, 2018, Davenport (IA) Quad City Times: More special-ed students coming to Bettendorf School District https://qctimes.com/news/local/more-special-ed-students-coming-to-bettendorf-school-district/article_565ad256-3642-5714-96a6-235d0677a43b.html More special-education students are being served in Bettendorf School District, a district official said. Kay Ingham, director of curriculum and special services, reported to the board at its regular meeting Monday night that, last year, 436 special-education students were in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in the district, compared to 466 currently. The number of students the district currently serves costs the district money, explained Dallon Christensen, director of finance for the district. Money coming in to the district is based on the certified count of special-education students from the previous year. Overall, the special-education deficit increased 2.6 percent or $833,908 in 2016-2017 to $855,837 in 2017-2018. Essentially, the district is breaking even, Christensen said….
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.