Rights Compromised: Special Education, Costs and Residual Funding

Kern Alexander, Richard C. Hunter

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

In the United States, a child with a disability is vested with the statutory right to a free appropriate public education. Public school districts fulfill this right with an individualized education program designed to address the educational needs of the child. As with all governmental programs designed to extend positive benefits, statutory rights to a free appropriate public education come with attendant and commensurate costs that must be paid by the taxpayer. Rights have costs, and while the rights may be absolute, the remedy to a rights deficiency is subject to political processes. To borrow from Ronald Dworkin’s famous aphorism, costs and politics ultimately trump the right to a free appropriate public education.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdministering Special Education
Subtitle of host publicationIn Pursuit of Dignity and Autonomy
EditorsKern Alexander, Richard C Hunter
PublisherEmerald Group Publishing Ltd.
Chapter1
Pages1-12
Number of pages12
ISBN (Print)0762311452, 9780762311453
DOIs
StatePublished - 2004

Publication series

NameAdvances in Educational Administration
PublisherJAI Press
Volume7
ISSN (Print)1479-3660

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education

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