Amid ongoing fiscal crisis, proposed cuts to special education worry parents and educators

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii’s public schools are bracing for a 9% cut to special education funds, and parents and teachers alike say that will have a direct impact on students.

The state Education Department was tasked with presenting a proposal with a 10% cut in the biennium budget given the state’s ongoing fiscal crisis. According to schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto, the department will be dealing with a $264 billion loss starting July 1.

But many are urging the DOE to look for ways to shield students from the funding reductions ― something the superintendent says they’ve tried to do as much as possible.

Durrah Watson, a father of two children with autism, said special needs programs are “critical.”

Read more: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/12/04/amid-ongoing-fiscal-crisis-proposed-cuts-special-education-worry-parents-educators/