Readers may have noticed that we’re profiling the education views of Missouri’s legislators. As I’ve been researching the subject, however, there is a decided lack of information on a lot of ‘em. Some have websites that lay out their views and key issues, but others barely have an online presence; some not at all. This brings up the “what did we do before the internet?” query. Well, we had town hall meetings as a necessity, not as a kitschy way to reconnect with voters right before election time. But on a state-wide level, it’s hard to get a handle even now on what ideologies our representatives espouse.
We’re talking lately about special needs legislation (HB 1886 and SB 993) that could have a tremendous impact on families of special needs children: allowing them to transfer to a private school that can meet their specific needs better than their local public school. I think for many parents out there, this is mission critical. Private schools can be costly, and many cannot find the right match for their child in the neighborhood school. With many developmental disabilities, lost time trying to get the right services is a loss of potential or even a regression of symptoms.
With critics and misinformation clouding the real virtues of these bills, the best way to make an impact is to call your legislator to ask them where they stand and ask them to vote yes for your child, or you neighbor or your niece or grandchild.
Find your legislator HERE. If you don’t know your 4-digit zip code extension, remember to click the button above the form that reads “Go to USPS Zip Lookup”. A personal phone call is more important than all the blogs in the world, because blogs don’t vote. Let your Representatives and Senators know what you think.
