Comments on: (Special Needs) Mommy Wars

By: Autism Vox 2008 in Review: August-December

Autism Vox 2008 in Review: August-December — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:55:44 +0000

[...] youngest son, Trigg, has Down Syndrome—-as Senator John McCain’s running mate got the (Special Needs) Mommy Wars going [...]

By: This and Last Week’s Top Posts

This and Last Week’s Top Posts — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:04:11 +0000

[...] (Special Needs) Mommy Wars Update on the Mommy Wars: Special Campaign Edition. [...]

By: Sarah Palin and her baby Trig

Sarah Palin and her baby Trig — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:22:31 +0000

[...] For sure, they do; take it from this special needs mom. [...]

By: More about Gov.Palin on Disabilities

More about Gov.Palin on Disabilities — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:55:52 +0000

[...] the wake of Governor Sarah Palin announcing that families of children with special needs would “‘have a friend and advocate in the White House” as the camera panned to her [...]

By: There’s a Poem At the End of This

There’s a Poem At the End of This — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:57:05 +0000

[...] Readers looks at reports on special education funding in Alaska and Governor Palin. [...]

By: CS

CS — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:50:42 +0000

I see a slight funding decrease from 2007 levels in 08 and flat in 09 if ACYA is removed. ACYA gets twice the funding of Special Education.

Ok, so what did she do for Special Ed? Nothing?

By: Regan

Regan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:29:43 +0000

The comment’s in moderation so I’ll just post this part–
The Alaska Challenge Youth Academy (ACYA) is more specifically a boot camp for troubled teens, and is as noted, a separate line item.
“This instructional program is operated in Anchorage with student enrollees from across the state. Students work on challenging academic programs in a “boot camp” environment. Completing high school and building career goal and skills are the goals. AS 14.30.740.” Funding levels and increases are mandated in statute.
If I was analyzing Special Ed, Intensive Services, or home-care budgets, I would discard the ACYA.

By: Regan

Regan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:18:07 +0000

State of Alaska FY2009 Governor’s Operating Budget
Department of Education and Early Development
Alaska Challenge Youth Academy
Component Budget Summary

The Alaska Challenge Youth Academy (ACYA) is more specifically a boot camp for troubled teens, and is as noted, a separate line item.
“This instructional program is operated in Anchorage with student enrollees from across the state. Students work on challenging academic programs in a “boot camp” environment. Completing high school and building career goal and skills are the goals. AS 14.30.740.” Funding levels and increases are mandated in statute.
If I was analyzing Special Ed, Intensive Services, or home-care budgets, I would discard the ACYA.

Just FYI, pp 99-102, Legislative Fiscal Analyst’s Overview of the Governor’s FY09 Request
Department of Education & Early Development, from
The Fiscal Year 2009 Budget: Legislative Fiscal Analyst’s Overview of the Governor’s Request
Legislative Finance Division, State of Alaska

One thing that might be borne in mind, and has already been noted, is the relative level of tax-available income of a state vs. expenditures, and whether it is operating in a deficit, as is the Federal Government at this time.
If you surf the State of Alaska website, there’s graph of per-student education expenditures, 2007-2009, is relatively flat; there was a substantial jump when Governor Palin took office and then has remained at a relatively stable level.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:59:43 +0000

So a question would be, why is the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy not included under the special ed budget numbers?

By: Autismville

Autismville — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:41:43 +0000

Read this on one of the Yahoo! Groups I frequent, but have admittedly not verified it:

A commenter accused Sarah of reducing the special education budget by 62%. That is false. The special education budget actually increased by nearly 12%, as explained below.
As commenter correctly notes, the Alaska 2007 budget for special education was $8,265,300. But that included $5,352,000 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy.

In the 2009 budgetary document to which commenter links, astute observers will note that there is no mention of the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. Instead, you have to look elsewhere. And guess what: There is now a specific document providing $6,082,100 for the Alaska Challenge Youth Academy. http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/09_omb/budget/EED/comp2837.pdf So combined with the $3,156,000, the total is $9,238,100. A nearly 12% INCREASE, not a 62% decrease