Reports have come out over the past few months that Texas is denying services to public school students with special needs.
Now, as The Dallas Morning News reports,Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus is weighing in on the issue. Last week Straus wrote to Education Commissioner Mike Morath insisting that special education will be a priority during the upcoming legislative session. “Students should not be denied the services they need," Straus wrote.”
Meanwhile, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is also getting in on the act, as The Houston Chronicle reports. Last week Patrick expressed concern about the “benchmark” rule in the state that says that no more than 8.5 percent of students in a given school can receive help. The rule has driven the percentage of disabled children receiving therapy, counseling and tutoring in Texas to the lowest rate in the nation.