In late November, the Asbury Park Press ran a six part series on special education: “Special Care, Unknown Costs.” The stories are the result of an 8-month investigation by APP reporter Shannon Mullen looking at service delivery, costs and accountability, among other areas.

ASAH leadership, and many of its members, worked with Mullen throughout the investigation, and provided hours of interviews and research, much of which was unused.

By most accounts, the series was uneven and irregular in its message and reporting. In the area of costs, for example, the series focused on approved private schools – the only area in which accurate tuitions are known – and failed to even raise the issue of public tuitions rates. The series did not make mention of the full actual excess cost of Special Services or other public regional programs.

While the final ‘message’ of the series is unclear, there were several bright spots in the series. Among them: APP’s Editorial Director Randy Bergmann’s editorial calling for more accountability and a comprehensive funding study
ASAH helped to organize a response, which included three Letters to the Editor from a private school perspective on issues including bullying, outcomes and accountability, and costs.

On Friday, November 29, the APP ran Brenda Considine’s OpEd presenting the perspective of the New Jersey Coalition for Special Education Funding Reform.