Creation of Special Education Caucus

MA State Representatives Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) and Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland)announced today the formation of a Special Education (SPED) Caucus in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate, which they will co-chair.

The Special Education Caucus is made up of a bi-partisan group of legislators who are interested in issues of funding and advocacy surrounding special education. First, the caucus will focus on ways to increase the level of reimbursement given to municipalities under the Special Education Circuit Breaker, which is designed to reimburse districts for high cost special needs students. Currently, the rate of reimbursement is at 72% per student. The caucus goal is to provide a range of options to return larger amounts of money to cities and towns under the Circuit Breaker program to include phasing transportation into the circuit breaker; raising the reimbursement up from the current 72% to at least 80% towards an eventual 100% rate; and/or considering lowering the threshold for high quality in-district provision of services to 3 times per pupil average.

“Given the budgetary constraints that every municipality contends with, having a Special Education caucus advocate for increased financial reimbursement is crucial to ensuring that students receive the services they need to succeed while lessening the burden on the school district”, commented L’Italien.

“The establishment of this caucus is necessary for ensuring that every student in the state of Massachusetts has access to a quality education,” said Sannicandro. “It is the responsibility of the legislature to be at the forefront of special education and to fuel the mechanisms that drive it.”

The first meeting of the SPED Caucus will be held on Thursday, March 2^nd where Superintendent Sheldon Berman of the Hudson Public Schools will address the caucus. Superintendent Berman will speak on special education funding and the potential costs and benefits of including transportation into the special ed. circuit breaker. He will also present his idea to potentially save twenty percent of the cost of special education transportation through greater coordination and planning.

While the caucus plans to initially focus on strategies to assist the municipalities with greater reimbursement, it also plans to research and become a clearinghouse of information regarding how other states fund Special Education, and to serve as a legislative advocacy group.

The two Special Education caucus chairs bring a wealth of experience and interest to the table.

Representative Barbara L’Italien, a mother of four school-aged children including a son with Asperger’s Syndrome, was instrumental in securing a new Division of Autism in the 2006 budget and in the passage of legislation to develop a Medicaid Waiver to secure fifty percent reimbursement for services to autistic school-age children. Her on-going advocacy on behalf of the disabled and their families has earned her recognition by the Doug Flutie Foundation, and the Jewish Federation. Additionally, she will receive the Massachusetts Association of Retarded Citizens’ annual award on March 1, 2006 at the MA State House.

Representative Tom Sannicandro, a father of four including a son with Down Syndrome, has been a lead advocate for funding of the Department of Mental Retardation budget, particularly Family Supports and Turning 22 where Tom was instrumental in securing a $500,000 increase for FY06. Prior to joining the Legislature, he served as an Ashland School Committee member from 2000-2005. Through his tenure as co-chair of the Ashland Special Education Advisory Council, as a legislator, and in his profession as an attorney, Tom has fought for the rights of students with special needs so that they may receive appropriate educational opportunities.

The SPED Caucus will join the more than ten existing caucuses in the State House, which hold meetings and events as a way to inform and promote awareness on issues of interest to the members and staff of the House of Representatives and Senate. In addition to legislators, the caucus will be open to School Superintendents; School Committees; Special Education Administrators, teachers, and professionals; parents and advocates.

Andover Council on Aging Grant

L’ITALIEN ANNOUNCES STATE GRANT TO SUPPORT ANDOVER COUNCIL ON AGING

BOSTON – State Representative Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) announced this week that the Andover Council on Aging (COA) has received a Formula Grant through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for fiscal year 2006.

The Andover COA will receive $29,614 to employ an Adult Social Day Care aide and a wellness program instructor. The funds will also support printing and distributing the COA newsletter as well as pay for conference / meeting attendance. It is the responsibility of the COA to advocate for the health, economic, social and cultural needs of older adults, while encouraging maximum independence. The caring staff of the Andover senior center has been central in fostering a sense of community among the town’s elderly population and is crucial to the center’s continued success.

“The Andover Senior Center provides a welcoming environment for socialization, education, health monitoring and advocacy. I am pleased that they are receiving this State grant as they have been stretched in a time of state, federal and local budget cutbacks,” remarked L’Italien. “Congratulations and keep up your exemplary service to Andover.”

Formula grants from the state to communities are calculated based on a municipality’s population over age 60. Each COA determines its own priorities for expenditures from a broad range of eligible costs established by Elder Affairs. The FY06 budget included a total of $7 million to provide COA programs with a funding increase of $500,000 over last fiscal year.

Methuen Council on Aging Grant

L’ITALIEN ANNOUNCES STATE GRANT TO SUPPORT METHUEN COUNCIL ON AGING

BOSTON – State Representative Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) announced today the Methuen Council on Aging (COA) has received a Formula Grant through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for fiscal year 2006.

The Methuen COA will receive $48,181 to coordinate bilingual outreach, volunteer, and social services. The funds will provide for mental health support, transportation, and dues. Also, the funds will pay for conference / meeting attendance and volunteer recognition. It is the responsibility of the COA to advocate for the health, economic, social and cultural needs of older adults, while encouraging maximum independence. The caring staff of the Methuen senior center has been central in fostering a sense of community among the town’s elderly population and is crucial to the center’s continued success.

“The Methuen Senior Center provides a welcoming environment for socialization, education, health monitoring and advocacy. I am pleased that they are receiving this State grant as they have been stretched in a time of state, federal and local budget cutbacks,” remarked L’Italien. “Congratulations and keep up your exemplary service to Methuen.”

Formula grants from the state to communities are calculated based on a municipality’s population over age 60. Each COA determines its own priorities for expenditures from a broad range of eligible costs established by Elder Affairs. The FY06 budget included a total of $7 million to provide COA programs with a funding increase of $500,000 over last fiscal year.

Georgetown Council on Aging Grant

L’ITALIEN ANNOUNCES STATE GRANT TO SUPPORT GEORGETOWN COUNCIL ON AGING

BOSTON – State Representative Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) announced this week that the Georgetown Council on Aging (COA) has received a Formula Grant through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for fiscal year 2006.

The Georgetown COA will receive $5,424 to support the meal site coordinator and meal site server positions. The funds will also provide postage for the COA newsletter as well as pay for conference / meeting attendance and volunteer recognition and support. It is the responsibility of the COA to advocate for the health, economic, social and cultural needs of older adults, while encouraging maximum independence. The caring staff of the Georgetown senior center has been central in fostering a sense of community among the town’s elderly population and is crucial to the center’s continued success.

“The Georgetown Senior Center provides a welcoming environment for socialization, education, health monitoring and advocacy. I am pleased that they are receiving this State grant as they have been stretched in a time of state, federal and local budget cutbacks,” remarked L’Italien. “Congratulations and keep up your exemplary service to Georgeotown.”

Formula grants from the state to communities are calculated based on a municipality’s population over age 60. Each COA determines its own priorities for expenditures from a broad range of eligible costs established by Elder Affairs. The FY06 budget included a total of $7 million to provide COA programs with a funding increase of $500,000 over last fiscal year.

Boxford Council on Aging Grant

L’ITALIEN ANNOUNCES STATE GRANT TO SUPPORT BOXFORD COUNCIL ON AGING

BOSTON – State Representative Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) announced this week that the Boxford Council on Aging (COA) has received a Formula Grant through the Executive Office of Elder Affairs for fiscal year 2006.

The Boxford COA will receive $6,046 to employ a part-time outreach worker and a secretary. The funds will also provide postage for the COA newsletter as well as pay for conference / meeting attendance and volunteer recognition. It is the responsibility of the COA to advocate for the health, economic, social and cultural needs of older adults, while encouraging maximum independence. The caring staff of the Boxford senior center has been central in fostering a sense of community among the town’s elderly population and is crucial to the center’s continued success.

“The Boxford Council on Aging provides a welcoming environment for socialization, education, health monitoring and advocacy. I am pleased that they are receiving this State grant as they have been stretched in a time of state, federal and local budget cutbacks,” remarked L’Italien. “Congratulations and keep up your exemplary service to Boxford.”

Formula grants from the state to communities are calculated based on a municipality’s population over age 60. Each COA determines its own priorities for expenditures from a broad range of eligible costs established by Elder Affairs. The FY06 budget included a total of $7 million to provide COA programs with a funding increase of $500,000 over last fiscal year.