The Virginian-Pilot
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CHESAPEAKE
A hearing officer has rejected a family's request for private school tuition reimbursement for their daughter.
Instead, the Chesapeake school division's recommendation to put Anna Fuller in an autism spectrum disorders classroom at Oscar Smith Middle is the proper placement, a Virginia Supreme Court-appointed hearing officer decided Friday.
Anna's parents, Stephen and Mariquita Fuller, fought that recommendation because their daughter does not have autism. They said they don't believe the school division can provide the special education services Anna needs - or that federal law requires.
The 14-year-old's medical problems include hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid inside the skull.
A former student at Greenbrier Intermediate School, Anna attends a private residential school near Charlottesville. Mariquita Fuller said she's struggling to pay the $42,000 bill.
The Fullers - who are divorced - made their case for tuition reimbursement during a three-day hearing last month. Hearing officer Sarah Smith Freeman ruled that the family isn't eligible for tuition reimbursement because the Chesapeake school division is offering Anna what's required by federal law - a free appropriate public education in the least-restrictive setting.
Also, according to Freeman's report, the parents failed to give proper notice of Anna's removal from Chesapeake schools.
The school division declined to comment on the outcome.
Mariquita Fuller said she is considering appealing the decision. School division staff have repeatedly denied her daughter a free appropriate public education, she said.
The family is looking for private donors so Anna can stay at Oakland School, which serves children with learning disabilities, ADHD and organizational difficulties.
Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com
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some children
Just won't get much out of the school systems anyway. Mostly parents send these kids to school because it gives them a "break" where they don't have to deal with their problem child. The motto of today's society "it's not my fault, it's someone else's problem" is getting seriously old. Then they whine and complain how their poor child suffers in the public school system and they deserve compensation. If your child can't meet standards they shouldn't be there. I am tired of seeing my tax $$$ wasted on kids who cost the schools millions for no hope of a future anyway.
No faith in public school systems
when it comes to special needs. My son was denied testing by the Norfolk school system. Their excuse- he was not ailing. Most teachers over several years agreed with a suspected learning disability yet my child continued to just barely pass and was NEVER tested. When it finally caught up to him in the 9th grade and he failed, a school system in a different state tested and confirmed 2 different learning disabilities. Who suffers the consequences? My child, of course. School systems need to be held accountable to teach each and every student, test if needed and provide individual services to accomodate the child. If the school cannot do so, then they need to pay for such services. It's much less expensive to pay for the services as opposed to fighting to pay for them. If the parents have to pay privately then they deserve tax credits. Our schools are in sad shape. How scary to think this generation will be the ones taking care of us as we age?
WHO HAS CUSTODY
Who has custody of this child? The article said that the Fullers are divorced - the former living in Chesapeake, the latter in California. So only one is paying taxes in Chesapeake, is the other getting a tax break in California for having a disabled child? #42,000 a year is very expensive, more that a college education at a prestigious school costs. The article also lists that to date, the school division has spent about $31,900 in legal costs. So not only do they want to be reimbursed for the tuition they are costing me and the other taxpayers in Chesapeake for legal fees. This whole story has a stink to it from her mother moving first to North Carolina and then her attorney, Lois Manes, arguing that Anna suffers from school avoidance and school refusal because of her experience in Chesapeake. This was disputed by Lisa Perkins Perkins - the special education compliance specialist who stated that she was a successful student who made the honor roll the first nine weeks. Well you have heard of Doctor shopping now we have school shopping. Find the expensive school you want your kid to go to and then pass the cost off on us.
$42,00 to educate this child
$42,00 to educate this child sounds a bit steep. That's a years tuition room and board at some of our most expensive colleges. Sounds like this family is over reaching a bit to me. I do hope the Chespaeake school system can find a suitable setting for this little girl to get an education. Putting her with autistic children does not seem the correct way to go.
Doesn't say per year
It doesn't really say what it costs per year. Schools that require a lot of skilled one on one do get rather expensive. The regular schools where you might get 1/30th of the teacher time cost 6-10k a year.
The mother lives in CA
and she is not here with her daughter? Something smells funny. One of the draws for this area is the quality of the school system, for the most part, the caring teachers and administrators and the advances in medicine and education as a result of the high quality of colleges and health organizations. Methinks the parents doth protest too much.
The mother
The mother is living in Cali NOT in Chesapeake. So let her move her daughter back to Cali and they can foot the bill. The Mother is not a resident of Chesapeake.
From the first story:
"In Anna's case, Stephen and Mariquita Fuller initiated the hearing because they disagreed with the school system's recommendation. The Fullers are divorced - the former living in Chesapeake, the latter in California"
The $42,000 I bet is for lodging and meals along with the schooling. Bet Dad could move up there and save most of that fee if the young lady lived at home vice on campus. Or even her mom could move back and take care of her daughter, now there is a concept. Welcome back to VA, thanks for your tax dollars to put your child though school.
Special Needs Children
I understand what these parents are going through. When you find out that your child has a disability, the first thing you have to do is accept it. As well as, the fact that there are limitations and things that your child will never be capable of doing. Private schools and/or programs do not guarantee a happy ending for your child. I have a success story but I believe that in my situation it was just a miracle from God. My child has made great progress with his disability with the help from the public school system. He started by attending the Children's Center in Suffolk and then at the age of 3 years, attended Florence Bowser. I actually tried paying for him to attend private school and removed him after two weeks. I had to spend hours upon hours working with him at home and involve myself in his education at school and I attended many sessions with therapist learning and attending classes with him. Unfortunately, with budget shortfalls, I fear that many more programs will be cut for special needs children and these children will not get the help they need which will help them to survive as adults. All of these children are in my prayers.
Government Controlled Education and Autism
I am the father of a child with autism that currently attends a VA Beach Public School. The cost of educating a special needs student if often 8 times (or more) the cost of educating a non-special needs student.
I have worked in public education most of my career. I attended government schools and state universities. They do a dis-service to those who attend them.
The government should not be running schools. It is un-constitutional for the government to control schools. All government controlled (public) schools should be abolished. The US Dept. of Education and Teachers Unions are leftist corrupt organizations.
Government is not the answer. It is the problem.
Taxpayers money should stop going to government controlled education. Give that money back to the taxpayers. Reduce taxes and government spending significantly!
Government schools are miserably failing all students (both special needs and non-special needs students alike). Not long ago, I was a graduate student and another graduate student in my class could not write at more than an 8th grade level. That is not uncommon.
Government schools fail to educate students. They just indoctrinate them t
Reply to fdm505
You must be one of those retired people who had others help you put your children through school and now you are done. You want to horde your riches to yourself and let the rest of future generation be flushed done the toilet. Shame on you ... While I agree that our government spends too much on adminstrative costs and trying to educate students who may never be able to function in society due to severe disablilities; I think our efforts to ensure an education for all capable students is vital if we want to keep our freedom and our country safe. Stop being so selfish. I am tired of listening to the "ME FIRST" generation.