RE: recommendation 14

I am a Resource Specialist serving intermediate aged school children. I
struggle to address all the needs my students present (and the parents -
supported by the courts - demand). Governed by state program to supplement
the core curriculum, but not supplant, my primary goal is to provide every
opportunity to assist my students as they move through school. This is
extremely challenging. My students require more time and different
instructional practices to master the curriculum, so I must work very
efficiently. However, I cannot remediate weaknesses in this arrangement.
As I address state standards for student learning, how and when do I
address areas where my students are significantly behind their peers?

I encourage the committee to address this situation within the Master Plan
and give direction to districts. Additional legislation might be
appropriate to define the purpose and limitations of a free, appropriate,
public education; the opportunities to supplant the core curriculum for
students who are deficient; and the obligations of a district to
simultaneously maintain curricular standards and pace while addressing
remediation.

Sincerely,
Elisabeth Hadley