(Laurel, MD) PHILLIPS School ~ Laurel students and staff put on their comfortable shoes and joined the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) on January 31, 2012 as they walked the halls of the Capital in Annapolis. The students were in awe as they thought about their forefathers who had played an important role in history in this same building hundreds of years before them. The students’ mission was a clear one-- they were there to make history too as they shared their stories and educated their legislators about the importance of supporting the over 4,600 students and families who receive education services from Maryland’s nonpublic education facilities. Maryland is proud to share that they have 99 nonpublic partners, employing over 3000 Marylanders, throughout 17 counties who provide a continuum of services to support students who “do not fit” in traditional public education settings.

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) mandates that all children have access to free and appropriate education. Maryland has shared over 40 years of partnership with the private sector that make up a network of providers who are able to meet the needs of most of Maryland’s most vulnerable students and fulfill the intent of the law. Through the use of small classroom settings; trained multidisciplinary teams; differentiated instruction; specialized vocational supports and transition services nonpublic partners provide the academic rigor, social/emotional/behavioral support and transition services necessary to ensure students and families develop the skills they need to be successful in his/her communities.

Students met with Maryland state legislators including, Delegate Guy Guzonne, Senator Allan Kittleman and Senator Nancy King during their visit in Annapolis. They were comfortable sharing their stories and how PHILLIPS a nonpublic partner had helped them –but more importantly helps the thousands more they represented. Their request was a simple one: Tuition rates are set by the state, MSDE and have now been frozen for three years. MANSEF schools, just like PHILLIPS are experiencing the effects of these rate freezes; laying off staff, freezing salaries, reducing benefits for staff and instituting furlough days. All these cost cutting measures affect the nonpublic partner’s ability to provide needed services to students and families. Please support a rate increase to the nonpublic partners this year—there is nothing left to cut or freeze.

Mallory, a student form PHILLIPS was able to share her challenges and the difficulties she had at her local high school with Del. Gozzone. Mallory was passionate about why PHILLIPS School ~ Laurel is so important and the ways it has helped her. She stated. “PHILLIPS has helped me become the person I am today. A person able to meet with you, talk about myself, and explain where I have come from.” It is important to remember that an investment in the MANSEF partners is an investment in our youth, our communities and our future leaders—just like Mallory.

About PHILLIPS Programs

PHILLIPS Programs was founded in 1967 by Dr. E. Lakin Phillips with the mission to provide children with special needs the individualized education and support they needed. Our children’s lives have been colored by a variety of personal and environmental circumstances, so we tailor our approach to address each child’s unique situation. PHILLIPS operates programs focused on special education, therapeutic foster care, home-based counseling support, and hands on vocational training that serve children and families from the Washington, DC metro area.  PHILLIPS is the 2010 winner of The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management.  For more information visit www.phillipsprograms.org or contact Sarah Caldwell at 703-941-8810, 7010 Braddock Road, Annandale, VA 22003.