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Minutes for HB2613 - Committee on Education
Short Title
Provision of assistive technology, sign language and Braille services for students with a disability.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 13, 2018
Chairperson Aurand opened the hearing on HB2613. Revisor Jason Long summarized the bill. (Attachment 1)
Representative Speaker Pro Tem Scott Schwab testified in support of the legislation. He stated that this legislation can help prevent litigation. He became aware of a specific situation, and he shared a Kansas City Star newspaper article about the Petro family. (Attachment 2)
Brooke Petro, a student who uses braille to learn, was introduced to the Committee, and using her fingers she read this statement: "My name is Brooke Petro. With my fingertips, I read braille at 166 words per minute. Braille is important to me because it means that I can keep up with my class and learn what everyone else is learning. 50% of blind kids drop out of high school. I don't want to be part of that statistic because my dream is to be an engineer at NASA. The only way I am going to achieve that dream is by studying hard and having all the resources that I need. Braille is the only way I can do that. I have friends who go to summer school with me at the Kansas State School for the Blind. I don't know how they learn what they are supposed to without braille. They either have to strain to see in large words on a magnifying screen or just listen. I feel sorry for them. I appreciate that my parents are working hard to make sure that every child in Kansas has the opportunity to read braille. With your help that can happen. Thank you."
Soren Petro, Brooke's father, testified in support of the legislation and stated that his story is important because they represent many families. He shared the history of his daughter's diagnosis and ongoing struggle with the school district that would not offer braille instruction to Brooke. They enrolled her in a private school with the Blue Valley District providing some special education services. The District then changed her IEP, without family consultation, ending the supply of braille materials. He explained the importance of braille and how it empowers blind persons. 30% of the blind population is employed, and most of them read braille. The remaining 70% are not braille readers, and do not work. (Attachment 3)
Questions were asked about under-funding special education, cost of creating braille curriculum and instruction, IEP provisions and changes, and braille book size.
Terry Collins testified he is representing Kansas Association of Special Education Administrators, the United School Administrators of Kansas and the Kansas Association of School Boards in opposing the bill. His major objection is the fiscal challenge of paying for this legislation that would provide Special Education services in private schools across Kansas. HB2613 will add millions of dollars to the cost of services for special education students. This will affect the pool of money that is available to all students in special ed across the state. (Attachment 4)
Questions were asked about funding and proportionate share to private schools formula.
Written testimony in opposition to the bill was submitted by:
Katherine Kersenbrook-Ostmeyer, Director Special Education, Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center (Attachment 5)
The Chairperson closed the hearing on HB2613.
Meeting adjourned at 4:35.
