History
Brief history of Washington State Special Education Coalition
The Washington State Special Education Coalition was formed in 1977 in order to bring both parent and professional organizations together who were interested in the special needs and concerns of students in need of special education and support services.
The Board of Directors consists of representatives from statewide organizations, many of which have a national affiliation, as well as regional parent representatives and others interested and dedicated to the purposes of The WSSEC.
The principal purposes for which The WSSEC is formed are:
- To establish a common ground of unified need which recognizes the strength of cooperation, the wisdom of sharing information, and the universal requirement that individuals with disabilities must be fully represented.
- To identify the unmet education needs of all students with disabilities, to work cooperatively to develop solutions to those needs and to assure that all students achieve their full human and civil rights.
- To encourage the formation and strengthening of parent and consumer groups who have as a major purpose the betterment of the educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
- To provide a unified voice in support of appropriate legislation for sufficient funding, appropriate programs, staff training and full service to all individuals with disabilities.
- to be a statewide, viable and dynamic public awareness force, with a united impact on decision makers, through the combined efforts of all persons concerned with the education of individuals with disabilities.
The WSSEC is an independent, non profit organization and membership is open to anyone interested in Special Education and related areas.
WSSEC Timeline
1978 - Legislature passes Basic Education Act* following School Funding I, where Judge Doran found the state must provide sufficient funding for basic education without reliance on special levies.
1983 - School Funding II, where Judge Doran finds in state Superior Court, that "special education is required under the Constitution & must be part of the state system of basic education & fully funded." Sp Ed Coalition was a plaintiff.
1984 - Preschool Mandate passes for 3 & 4 year olds with disabilities.
1986 - SEC supports Mediation for sp ed disputes. A cadre of mediators is trained by OSPI, but no formal system is established.
1987 - Learning Assistance Program passes as result of negotiations with Leg. to provide more intervention services. Initial program is offered for K-9, SEC supports services for K-12.
1988 - School Funding III passes. Sp Ed Coalition v. State of Wa, finds current funding system out of date & declares new system needed and/or safety net developed.
1988 - Clean Intermittent Catheterization procedures developed involving cooperation of family, physician and school districts.
1989 - Legislature funds Five Pilot Projects allowing more integration of students in various categorical programs. Aversive Therapy Rules are established with much collaboration among SEC member groups, including the teachers union. Wa State becomes one of the first state's to have such regs.
1990 - Hard-to Place Children's Committee established at the request of OSPI. Recommendations for meeting the needs of students with difficult behaviors and multiple needs given to OSPI and State Sp Ed Advisory Council.
1990 - Office of Financial Management studies special ed. history and funding, at request of Sp Ed Coalition.
1991 - Legislative Budget Committee authors HB 1329 after over two years of study & consensus building with the SEC & others. SEC is requested to serve on Advisory Committee to review data of 4-yr. study of pilot projects allowing more flexibility of funding for students with mild disabilities.
1991 - Sp Ed Coalition formally requests limit on indirect charges against Sp Ed budget in LEA's. Governor, House & Senate budgets reflect 0-indirect charges allowed. SEC requests OFM, LBC & OSPI prepare to submit a new funding system to be recommended by '92 session.
1992 - SEC continues it's involvement with various state committees, including the Rules & Regs Committee for OSPI and the Ed Reform Committees, now called Commission for Ed Reform.
1992 - SEC continues support & passage of 0-3 services for children with disabilities.
1993 - SEC continues to serve on Sp Ed Rules & Regs Committee, Ed Reform, School Funding (including I-601-602 issues), and hails approval of a Mediation System available at no cost to families or school districts, to help resolve sp ed disputes.
1995 - Sp Ed Funding Formula is updated to reflect Doran III & data collected since 1990 OFM study. SEC serves on Advisory Committee. This is the only mandated service to have safety nets available for unusual circumstances.
1995 - New Rules & Regs established which incorporate mediation into the system & establish a less complicated Citizen's Complaint process.
1995 - SEC supports increase of dollars to LEA's for training, and changes in state monitoring system.
1996 - SEC continues to provide input to Federal Reauth. of IDEA, including members visiting leaders in Wa DC.
1996 - Continued work with LBC on data concerning funding of sp ed.
1996 - Opposed School Voucher and Charter Bills.
1997 - Continued support of safe schools, while providing data and testimony to Leg. on necessary protections for sp ed students. Continued work with state PTA & OSPI/DSHS BD Task Force on this issue.
1997 - Opposed waivers affecting sp ed law; requested, and received support from Govn. who vetoed section
of bill relating to sp ed waivers.
1997 - Successfully opposed elimination of CIC and oral meds administration, but supported staff right to individually refuse.
1997 - Continued support for more training for staff, especially paraeducators.
1998 - Established a Legislative Liaison to track sp. ed. bills & assist with reports to Sp Ed Coalition Board & other parent & professional organizations interested in special education & related issues.
1998 - Supported legislation to collect qualitative & quantitative data on inclusionary practices.
1998 - Supported expansion of "Student Responsive Service Delivery (SRSD)" model for high risk students & continued data collection.
1999 - Added a Parent Community Relations Coordinator to staff and expanded community grassroots efforts, including use of technology for greater communication links.
1999 - Supported & helped pass increased nurse ratio in schools.
1999 - Spearheaded increase in dollars to be retained by LEA's via Medicaid billing.
1999 - Supported LAP increase,; assisted with passage of children's health care bill, & continued to support needed increase in staff training legislation, especially concerning behavior issues.
This is only a brief history & highlights of activities the SEC has either led or been actively involved with since its inception.