Hospital schools in NC could disappear

[ccharles000]

Schools in the state's three psychiatric hospitals could be eliminated as officials consider making local school districts responsible for educating hospitalized children.

The change could have its biggest impact on children who are hospitalized for long stretches. Instead of taking classes at hospital schools that have their own teachers and schedules, students would rely more on their home districts to help them keep up with class work, Lynn Bonner reports.

A patient advocacy group is questioning whether a drawback in school services would violate federal law or state code.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/hospital_schools_could_disappear

[pinto]

1. That would seem destined for the NC Supreme Court. n/t

[ccharles000]

2. I would think so

[havocmom]

4. Oh, at the very least (n/t)

[ccharles000]

3. kick

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Lots of hard calls here

Education is a local responsibility, not a state one from when I lived there. Just because the service was once provided is not a mandate that it always be there. The children are not just from the three districts where the hospitals are located. Throw IDEA and ADA into the mix and it gets even more complicated. Lets not forget the school employees. Retirements and seniority would have to be accommodated as well.

Going to be a mess, but I tend to think it will happen in the end