IMESD will fight for more early intervention funding
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The InterMountain Education Service District received the funding boost it asked for from the Oregon Legislature for early learning special education funding. Superintendent Mark Mulvihill said it’s not enough and they will lobby hard for additional money from the state during the next session.
“This is the first time in my career we’re reducing a program that significantly when money is available,” he said. “We have a reporting problem – a counting kids problem.”
Mulvihill said that while the count of children in kindergarten through 12th grade is based on how many are registered, the Early Childhood Special Education program is not. Instead it is the average number of children over a five-year period.
Meanwhile, IMESD operates Early Childhood Special Education programs in at least six Eastern Oregon counties and Mulvihill said the number of children participating continues to grow while funding does not.
“We’ve got to fix that,” he said. “We’ve got to fix that in the long session.”
IMESD’s free program includes home visits for children from birth to age 3, autism services, bilingual services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech and language services. It serves children in Baker, Grant, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa counties.
Photo via IMESD
