Task force starts setting up program to aid disabled kids

The task force charged with figuring out how to spend $1.4 million under the governor's veto-compromise plan for the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarships Bill made its first moves Wednesday to establish a program to help meet the needs of the severely disabled in private schools.

The group voted to target only the students with severe disabilities defined by the state Office of Education. That translates into focusing on students requiring at least three hours of specialized instruction a day with autism or other disabilities.

Autism seemed at the forefront, but so far the group believes the scholarships should be available to other disabilities mentioned in the Carson Smith Special Needs Bill such as hearing impairment, visual impairment, traumatic brain injury and mental retardation.

"I am most concerned about those falling through the cracks, and we would be remiss not to look at other disabilities," said Cheryl Smith, a parent of an autistic child.

Additionally, the group voted to have funds weighted to early intervention — first priority given to ages 3-9 years old and second to ages 10-21. The ratio will be determined later, but likely three-quarters of the money would go to ages 3-9 and the rest to the second priority group.

The task force comes as part of Gov. Olene Walker's plan for HB115. The bill would have given up to about $5,400 in private school vouchers for parents of students with disabilities.

Walker vetoed the bill, which she said raised constitutional concerns over having the state Board of Education oversee a private school program. But she left in a budget bill the $1.4 million HB115 gave to the program. She hopes to give that money to the board to give grants or contracts to private schools teaching students with disabilities.

Walker's plan still must be approved by the Legislature, likely in a special session, but several legislators are calling for a veto override.

The Senate reports that they have enough votes to override the veto, but there is no word yet on the House votes.

The task force is composed of parents and advocates of children with autism and other disabilities, state education officials, a lawmaker and a professor from the University of Utah.

Interim State Superintendent Patrick Ogden, chair of the task force, said by the end of the month the group hopes to:

• Determine a target population.

• Develop a model identifying types of service and providers.

• Develop and recommend an accountability system to assure the funds are being used effectively.

"I think we're right on track. I believe that the task is manageable and should be coming up with a recommendation in a reasonable amount of time," said Ogden.

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E-mail: terickson@desnews.com