Rise In Autism Classifications Prompts Call For More Training

Education Daily (5/2, Sherman) reports that despite a steadily declining number of IEPs being filed in recent years, the number of diagnoses of children with autism has risen. "Thus, although the number of students with IEPs has dropped by 4.8 percent since 2004, to 5.82 million, the number of such students who have an autism designation has grown by 122 percent, to 370,000, according to the Data Accountability Center. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also noted this trend," and VA8 Rep. Jim Moran (D) has proposed legislation to "would authorize demonstration grants to a district or group of districts that work with a nonprofit group or institution of higher education. The grants would pay for in-service training for teachers, paraprofessionals, and other staff; technical assistance; efforts to improve staff recruitment and retention; and programs to boost parental involvement."