State board backs off planned cuts in special ed services

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state education board on Thursday backed off plans to reduce special education services for some preschoolers after parents and educators raised concerns.

The state Board of Education had considered changing the state-aid eligibility criteria for children ages 3 through 5 who have speech or language impairments or developmental delays. The intent was to try to save the state money.

But after holding three public hearings and receiving more than 300 written comments about the proposed changes, the board voted to approve a final policy for special education services that left the preschool eligibility criteria alone.

Instead, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said it plans to request a $15 million supplemental appropriation in January to help cover the expected costs of early childhood special education during the current school year.

If the Legislature and Gov. Bob Holden do not approve the funding request, state education officials would take another look at changing the eligibility criteria or making other modifications in special education services for preschoolers, said Melodie Friedebach, the assistant commissioner for special education.

About 10,000 preschool-age children receive special education services at an annual cost of $99 million. The state pays about 75 percent of the program's costs and the federal government the rest.

Program on the rise

The education department says the number of children served in the program has been rising each year, resulting in higher costs.

Under current guidelines, a preschooler who can understand what is said but is unable to speak may receive speech therapy. But under the proposed changes, the child might not have been able to get that treatment. Also, a child who has trouble making certain sounds now can qualify for speech therapy at age 3. Under the proposed changes, a child would have to wait 18 months to qualify.

The state proposal also would have eliminated the option of a professional deciding whether a child has a delay or disability if the problem does not show up on a test.

About 130 people attended an October public hearing in St. Louis, with much smaller crowds in Springfield and Columbia.

Parents generally expressed concerns that the proposal would delay services to their children, making it more time-consuming and costly to treat them.

Some educators also testified about the benefits of early intervention and expressed concerns about delaying services.