Forwarded Message:
Subj: THE SPECIAL ED ADVOCATE, JULY 11, 2000 (V. 3, N. 23)
Date: 7/12/00 12:18:06 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: webmaster@wrightslaw.com (Wrightslaw)
Reply-to: webmaster@wrightslaw.com
To: special-ed-advocate@lists.wrightslaw.com (THE SPECIAL ED ADVOCATE)
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BREAKING NEWS
1. FROM WASHINGTON, DC - U. S. SUPREME COURT OKAYS AID TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS
2. FROM WEST VIRGINIA - STATE SEIZES SCHOOL DISTRICT
3. PETE & PAM WRIGHT IN WEST VIRGINIA ON JULY 27-28 - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
4. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
5. CONTACT INFORMATION
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1. FROM WASHINGTON DC - U. S. SUPREME COURT OKAYS AID TO RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS
In 1985, two mothers filed suit against the Jefferson Parish (LA) school district. The mothers were distressed that religious schools were
receiving federal and state aid. They felt that this practice drained funds from public schools, shortchanging the children who attended public
schools.
In their lawsuit, the mothers claimed that parochial schools were using federal funds to purchase religious books and that Jefferson Parish was
providing religious books to parochial school libraries. The lawsuit also challenged state special education programs that provided special
education teachers and supplies to parochial schools.
In 1999, relying on earlier decisions by the U. S. Supreme Court, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that loaning computers and
library books to religious schools was unconstitutional. The district appealed this decision to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court heard oral
argument on December 1, 1999.
On June 28, the United States Supreme Court issued a 6-3 split decision in Mitchell v. Helms, and found that government aid to religious schools does
not violate the Establishment Clause.
Although this closely watched case focused on a government program that allows religious schools to borrow computers, software and books, many
experts say the decision will have a ripple effect on other forms of aid to private and religious schools, including tuition vouchers and Internet
connections.
Judge Clarence Thomas wrote for the four-judge plurality: “It is the students and their parents -- not the government -- who, through their
choice of school, determine who receives Chapter 2 funds. The aid follows the child.”
In a concurring opinion, Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Stephen Breyer expressed concerns about “excessive entanglement” between government and
religion and advocated for standards laid out in by the high court in their 1997 ruling in “Agostini v. Felton.” Justice O’Connor authored the
opinion in Pete's case, Florence County School District IV v. Shannon Carter.
Justices Souter, Stevens and Ginsburg dissented, arguing that the views expressed by Justice Thomas departed from the high court’s earlier
decisions involving First Amendment issues.
You can get the decision in Mitchell v. Helms from law sites including Findlaw. To get a copy of the decision from Findlaw, go to -
http://www.findlaw.com/casecode/supreme.html
Under “Browsing,” click “Recent Decisions,” then click “Mitchell v. Helms”
[98-1648].
Education Week writer Mark Walsh wrote a thought-provoking article about the implications of this decision in “Supreme Court Upholds Program Aiding
Religious Schools.” He also wrote “Church State Rulings Cut Both Ways.” You can read these articles at -
http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=42church.h19
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2. FROM WEST VIRGINIA - STATE SEIZES SCHOOL DISTRICT
On June 8, the West Virginia Board of Education used their “takeover law” to seize control of Lincoln County School District. Effective July 1, the
superintendent was replaced and the school board lost decision-making authority.
West Virginia auditors found serious problems in Lincoln that included personnel selection procedures, assessment, improper use of “interim
positions,” sloppy bookkeeping, and uncorrected curriculum problems.
Daniel F. Hedges, an attorney who is pushing to eliminate disparities in state funding of education, blames the state education department for many
of Lincoln’s problems. When Lincoln wanted to keep its four small high schools open, the state refused to pay for any renovations to the schools
but offered money for one large school.
Source: “West Virginia Seizes Control of It’s Third School District” by Bess Keller, Education Week, June 21, 2000)
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3. PETE & PAM WRIGHT IN WEST VIRGINIA ON JULY 27-28 - MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
If you live in Ohio, Kentucky or West Virginia, we hope you’ll come to Huntington WV for “Riding Education Into the 21st Century,” a conference
for parents and professionals sponsored by the Mountain State Parents, Children and Adolescents Network.
On Friday, July 28, Pete Wright will present a three-hour session on “Special Education Law and You.” Later in the day, Pam Wright will talk
about “Advocacy and Self Esteem.” Pete Wright will present the Keynote address at the dinner meeting. Here are two links for information about
this conference.
Conference brochure in pdf:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/2000/wvmspcan.pdf
Conference information in html:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/2000/wva_conf_00_0728.htm
NOTE: The Registration deadline has been changed to July 20.
We hope you’ll make it - we’re looking forward to meeting you!
For information about where we’ll be speaking during the next few months, please check the conference schedule at-
http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/2000/schedule_2000.html
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4. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
The Special Ed Advocate is a free online newsletter about special education legal and advocacy issues, cases, tactics and strategy,
effective educational methods, and Internet resources. Subscribers to The Special Ed Advocate receive announcements and "alerts" about new cases and
other important events.
Read back issues of The Special Ed Advocate in the Newsletter Archives at the Wrightslaw site -
http://www.wrightslaw.com/main_newsletter_archives.htm
To subscribe, go to http://www.wrightslaw.com/subscribe.htm
To unsubscribe, please follow the link at the end of this newsletter.
===============
CONTACT INFORMATION
Pete and Pam Wright
Wrightslaw & The Special Ed Advocate
P. O. Box 1008
Deltaville, VA 23043
Website: http://www.wrightslaw.com
Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com
Copyright 2000, Peter W. D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright. All rights reserved. The resources at this website are copyrighted by the authors and
may be used for non-commercial purposes only. They may not be redistributed for commercial purposes without the express written consent
of Peter W. D. Wright.
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