In July 2015, the U.S. government determined that the GNETS program illegally segregates students with disabilities. The report also stated that this was in violation of Title II of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). GCEE is urging the state of Georgia to transform its separate and unequal educational program serving thousands of children with behavioral disabilities into a system that provides needed services and supports to integrate students into their own local schools. Get all the information on GNETS and the DOJ ruling here.
Georgia launchs new ABLE program named Georgia STABLE
Individuals with disabilities and their families often live a life of poverty as a result of not being allowed to save even modest amounts of money without fear of losing supports through SSI, Medicaid and other publicly-funded programs.
ABLE Programs like Georgia STABLE allow qualified individuals with disabilities to save up to $14,000 a year in an ABLE account without jeopardizing their eligibility for federally-funded benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. The funds in the account can be used for disability-related expenses that assist the beneficiary in increasing and/or maintaining his or her health, independence or quality of life.
Ms. Morley called Parent to Parent looking for resources and information. She received more than she expected.
Talking to our staff, she heard an experienced, compassionate voice that was able to support her and guide her to the help she needed. Please help us reach more families like the Morleys.
Georgia DOE Parent Survey
The Parent Satisfaction Survey helps the state Department of Education understand parents’ perception of their engagement between the local school and themselves. The 2019 Parent Survey, available in English and Spanish, is open now to all families of students with disabilities in the state.
State Advisory Panel Seeks Applicants
The Georgia Department of Education Division for Special Education Services and Supports is currently accepting applications for the State Advisory Panel for Special Education (SAP). The SAP is comprised of parents, persons with disabilities, educators and administrators who are knowledgeable about the education of all children. SAP members provide input and advice into meeting the statewide needs of students with disabilities. Application deadline is March 1, 2019. More information and application.
EVV Readiness Survey
The 21st Century Cures Act passed by Congress requires states to implement Electronic Visit Verification(EVV) for Medicaid-financed Personal Care Services by January 1, 2019 and Home Health Care Services by January 1, 2023. EVV is a technology (like an online time-sheet) that gathers time, attendance, and other care plan details, and is to be entered by a home care worker at the point of care. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) created the following EVV Readiness Survey to gather details on your basic knowledge and readiness for the EVV implementation. Replies to the survey questions will be kept private, as the details gathered will only be used to help DCH choose an EVV system. Replies will also help DCH develop training materials for Medicaid members and service providers.
The survey should take no more than 10-15 minutes to complete and closes on Monday, April 30th, 2018 at 5pm EST. Please use the following link to access the survey:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W98XCFH
For more information regarding EVV and Georgia’s implementation, please visit:https://dch.georgia.gov/georgia-medicaid-electronic-visit-verification
What Is EVV and Why Should You Care?
Join GCDD on Friday, September 14 at 12:00 PM for the educational webinar, “What Is EVV and Why Should You Care?”
GCDD’s Public Policy Director Dawn Alford and the Center for Public Representation’s Director of Advocacy Alison Barkoff will spend the lunch hour explaining new changes to Medicaid-financed personal care services and home health care services. This will impact you if you rely on the NOW, COMP, ICWP, CCSP, or SOURCE waiver.
Co-sponsored by the Statewide Independent Living Council, the Arc of Georgia, the Georgia Council on Aging, Parent 2 Parent of Georgia, the Georgia Advocacy Office, NAMI Georgia, and Georgians for a Healthy Future, this will be an event you will not want to miss.
Space is limited, so be sure to log on to the Adobe Connect virtual meeting room promptly at noon on the day of the webinar.
What is Georgia Department of Education’s SSIP?
The Office of the Special Education Programs(OSEP) has required that each State Educational Agency (SEA) develops a State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) that includes a comprehensive, multi-year focus on improving results of students with disabilities. Georgia will implement a systemic plan, “Student Success”, in FY16 to improve graduation outcomes for students with disabilities.
Class Action Lawsuit filed
Parents and Advocates filed suit in federal court October 11, 2017. The lawsuit, was filed by parents of children with disabilities, the Georgia Advocacy Office, the Center for Public Representation, the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, the Arc, DLA Piper LLP and the Goodmark Law Firm. The class action lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that the state of Georgia, in denying GNETS students the opportunity to be educated with their non-disabled peers in neighborhood schools, violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. For more information about the litigation, please visit www.centerforpublicrep.org/court_case/gao-v-georgia/
Public Hearings on the Proposed Repeal & Initiation of State Board of Education GNETS Rule (160-4-7-.15)
The Georgia Department of Education hosted four public hearings to collect comments on the proposed revisions to the GNETS (Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support) rule. Public comments were accepted at the hearings and by email to GNETrule@doe.k12.ga.us. The deadline for written comments was April 14, 2017.
Hearings:
- April 12, 2017 – 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Gwinnett County
Buford Middle School Auditorium – 2700 Robert Bell Parkway, Buford, GA 30518
- April 13, 2017 – 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Laurens County
Dublin High School Auditorium – 1127 Hillcrest Parkway, Dublin, GA 31201
- April 19, 2017 – 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Thomas County
Thomas County Schools Professional Learning Center – 200 North Pinetree Blvd, Thomasville, GA 31792
- June 15, 2017 – 9:30 am – Fulton County – State Board Meeting
Twin Towers East State Board of Education Room 2070 – 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30334
Georgia Coalition for Equity in Education (GCEE)
- What is the Georgia Coalition for Equity in Education?
We are a broad coalition of disability, educational, mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, civil rights and parent and youth advocacy groups from across the state who have joined together around our shared concerns about the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Supports (GNETS) program.
- What is the GNETS?
1) It is a statewide program that segregates students based on their behavior-related disabilities.
2) The program is usually housed in separate buildings, but can also be in a separate area in a traditional neighborhood school.
3) GNETS only serves students with disabilities deemed to have an Emotional and Behavioral Disorder (EBD) eligibility.
4) GNETS are different from alternative schools as they are only for students with disabilities.
5) Students at GNETS range from 3-22 years of age.
6) Currently the 24 GNETS serve around 5,000 students with behavior-related disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
For the past forty years, students in Georgia needing behavioral, mental health or other therapeutic services have been placed at the Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Supports (GNETS) formerly known as Georgia’s “Psycho-educational Centers”. In 1970, the Rutland Center was established in Athens as the first GNET center. Currently there are 24 GNETS programs throughout Georgia.
See the map of GNETS programs around the state.
- U.S. Department of Justice Investigation
In July 2015, the U.S. government determined that the GNETS program illegally segregates students with disabilities. The report also stated that this was in violation of Title II of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Summary of the Findings
1) Georgia unnecessarily and illegally segregates students with behavior-related disabilities through its GNETS program.
2) A majority of the students in GNETS programs spend their entire school day including meals, only with other students with disabilities in the Program. They have little to no opportunity to interact with their peers outside the GNETS program.
3)The existence of the GNETS program has prevented the schools from providing supports within the traditional school. GNETS enable school districts to segregate students instead of serving them appropriately.
4) Georgia does not provide teachers in general education schools with training to enable them to effectively support students with behavior-related disabilities in an integrated setting.
5) Many special education teachers also do not have any training on how to serve students with behavior-related disabilities.
6) Students in GNETS have an exit criteria developed that triggers transition back to traditional school. Most exit criteria were vague and contained higher standards of behavior than general education schools.
7) Most students at GNETS make no progress on their behavioral goals. Without appropriate behavioral supports, the students’ behaviors increase rather than decrease. Most students never reach their exit criteria and remain at GNETS for several years.
8) Once students enter a GNET, they become “stuck” in the program. A 2010 Georgia Audit found the average time spent at a GNET for a student was 4 years.
9) Most students in GNETS programs can be served in more integrated settings
10) Students who are in GNETS programs do not have the same opportunities to participate in elective courses and/or other extracurricular activities as their peers.
- Review Media Coverage on DOJ Findings
- Read the Georgia Letter of Response to DOJ
- Read the August 15, 2016 DOJ Letter to Georgia
- Read the November 1, 2016 Motion to Dismiss filed by the State of Georgia
- Read the December 9, 2016 DOJ Briefing Opposing the State of Georgia’s Motion to Dismiss
How Can I Learn More?
In addition to Parent to Parent, Who Can I Contact for More Information?
PARENTS AND ADVOCATES SUE STATE OF GEORGIA,
OVER SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL EDUCATION FOR
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Parents and Advocates File Suit
October 11, 2017 – Parents and Advocates sue the state of Georgia over separate and unequal education for thousands of students with disabilities.