Special education
Re “Regulatory fixes and increased spending poised to improve special education” (Our Views, April 11): Having followed the numerous articles about the Jan. 6, 2023, shooting trauma at Richneck Elementary School, I have wondered after every reading why there has not been much discussion of an evaluation of the 6-year-old boy’s potential need for special education services. According to reports, he has demonstrated severe emotional disturbance evidenced in violent and abusive behavior. Yet, it seems that he was placed in a regular classroom despite his need for intervention, albeit with parent visitation.
The 1975 federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has for nearly five decades provided for a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. Absent info on Richneck’s consideration of special education for the child, or any discussion with the child’s parent regarding her child’s needs, it appears the Newport News school system failed the child and his family. One can only hope that the child, his family and all other children in need of special education intervention receive the attention and help they require, and are legally entitled to, in order to succeed at school and in life.
Janet Bendann, Suffolk
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Fix it
FAFSA blunders have caused unnecessary stress and uncertainty for college students nationwide, including those in our community.
Many students feel abandoned and helpless because of the U.S. Education Department’s less-than-transparent messaging, damaging trust in the financial aid system. The Education Department needs to take immediate action regarding this matter.
Higher education is critical to our community’s future success, and students should not be denied access to financial aid due to bureaucratic errors and delays. The Education Department needs to take immediate action to resolve these problems and restore trust in the financial aid procedure. Ensuring that students receive timely and accurate financial assistance information is one of the main objectives, as well as determining the root causes of the problems and enhancing communication with schools and students.
The impact of these blunders on students’ goals and well-being is significant and cannot be ignored. As a community, we must demand prompt and decisive action to address this issue and hold the Education Department accountable for its shortcomings.
I urge every member of our community to unite in calling upon the Education Department to prioritize students’ needs and restore trust in the financial aid process. Our collective voice is crucial in ensuring that every student has fair and equitable access to the support he or she needs to pursue higher education and achieve his or her goals.
Salma Hassan, Toano
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Republican Party?
Re “Vote Republican” (Your Views, April 11): The letter writer argues the Constitution is safer under former President Donald Trump than President Joe Biden. It’s incomprehensible that an opinion is so misguided. First, Trump is a significant threat to our democracy. The system appropriately recognizes his misgivings, which leads to a tapering of his egotistical tendencies. Congress failed to fully impeached him, anticipating Trump would depart defeated. He did not. Former Trump officials have opposed him returning to office.
Secondly, the writer commented on President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court selection. Let’s be clear, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is arguably more qualified than any judge currently seated on the bench. She’s one of the few justices who has an exceptional breadth of judicial experience.
Voting Republican is currently a misnomer. The Republican Party no longer represents integrity nor morality. Its lack of foreign policy and protection of democracy around the world is embarrassing to its commitments from the past. Where is the party?
Reginald Wynn, Newport News
