Rashida Tlaib: “This is a plea on behalf 182,000 families who will have students with disabilities in Michigan. Year after year, we…”

“This is a plea on behalf 182,000 families who will have students with disabilities in Michigan. Year after year, we continue to fall short on the promise to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which many call IDEA. Failing to help our students to obtain the services they need to learn is, again, years that we cannot get back for our children. With this shortfall, we continue to undermine our students with disabilities. The education gap is continuing to widen. There is currently a 22 percent drop-out rate for students with disabilities in Michigan, where, for nondisabled students it is only 8 percent. {time} 1015 Schools use assessments to measure student proficiency and achievement, and under the IDEA, students with disabilities are expected to participate in State assessments. However, every year between 2017 and 2022, the State of Michigan has requested the Department of Education to approve a waiver to increase the 1 percent gap required by the Federal Government for the number of students with disabilities who can take Michigan's alternative assessment. It is because we are at double. We often don't do enough to support our kids who need to go through this, nor do we advise our parents properly. Budget cuts often shortchange individualized learning, plans that are crucial for students with disabilities. However, according to the Autism Alliance of Michigan, the dropout rate for students with disabilities is double the amount.…”