ESE Inclusion Proposal Gaining Momentum

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County school board member John Sweeney is spearheading an effort to save Florida's taxpayers millions of dollars while increasing the pay for many of the state's teachers.

A Spring Hill resident, Sweeney recently traveled to Tallahassee to present a proposal to Hernando County's representatives in the hopes of getting "appropriate wording" incorporated into the proposed maximum class size legislative amendment.

He hopes to promote a change in state guidelines that will allow general education teachers in Florida's public schools to earn extra income for obtaining certification to teach Exceptional Student Education students. This would create smaller classes, less segregation by ability level and make classrooms' teacher-to-student ratios more equal to the general public.

"I think it would keep some teachers from pulling their hair out," Sweeney said. "The current system flies in the face of logic and common sense and doesn't put kids first, which is what our (goal) should be."

He explained that schools across Florida currently are permitted to use ESE "inclusion" teachers in the calculation of teacher-to-student ratios, meaning that in many circumstances, there are 10 to 15 students with educational and emotional disabilities in classrooms with 30 or more students.

"This has an extremely negative impact on our educational system," he said. "My proposal (says that) we don't need to do that."

This overloading in inclusion classes has occurred for many reasons, the most notable being that there is a critical shortage of ESE teachers.

The language in the current statute is also vague, leaving the door open to misinterpretation, Sweeney added.

However - instead of segregating ESE students - Sweeney's proposal would aim to clarify the statute's language by creating classrooms with a number of ESE students that reflect each district's average.

In Hernando County, that number is 15 percent. In order for a typical classroom of 20 to 25 students to be a representative model of inclusion, it would include three to five ESE students.

"When (students) look around, I want them to see (their peers) as representative of the regular population," Sweeney said. "I don't want them to see each other as 'different,' but that we all have our strengths and weaknesses."

The proposal would also enable general education classroom teachers to earn a boost in pay by obtaining ESE certification and functioning as both a general education and ESE teacher. These teachers would prepare and monitor the Individualized Educational Plans for each student and be more familiar with their needs, Sweeney said.

"I also think it would keep some teachers from pulling their hair out," Sweeney added.

He estimated that the district could save thousands of dollars by not hiring additional ESE teachers, and could offer attractive stipends or supplements to general education teachers who pursue ESE certification.

"If each teacher is $57,000 with salary and benefits, we would see significant savings across the board to (stop looking for) as many ESE teachers and pay teachers a couple thousand dollars more for instructing ESE students," Sweeney said.

Monday afternoon, 19 of the 34 teaching positions posted on the Hernando County School District's Web site were ESE positions.

However, since many ESE students will still need the attention of an ESE teacher, Sweeney said he is viewing the proposal as an alternative option for inclusion classes.

Sweeney said he has met with Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, and Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and discussed the issue with officials in the Florida Department of Education's ESE and certifications departments.

"I was excited to hear the response," he said. "They all said they thought it was a great idea."

However, officials said they would be unable to move further with the proposal until the next fiscal year, when they have more time to examine the measure.

Sweeney said he hopes to make sure they do.

"My timing was off, but now I'm going to get the ball rolling and build a stronger, broader foundation that will enable (everyone) to get it done," he said. "I'm hopeful."