I read the forum by Phillip Crowell Jr. and Guy Desjardins on the benefits of early education with anguish (Dec. 12). They are correct in describing early education as a key to reducing crime. Further, the economic gains exceed that of any other public venture, and encouraging the optimum development of young children is valued by almost all citizens.

Unfortunately, the Legislature  places an unconscionably low value on this investment. Reimbursement for early intervention has not increased since 1991, decreasing the real dollar value of those services.

On Sept. 1, “early intervention” was eliminated by the Department of Health and Human Services, which replaced special education for young children with a medical model reimbursed frequently at 50 percent of previous amounts.  The new practices replace Bachelors-educated teachers with high school graduates.

Rehabilitation fees are reduced as well; the $32 Child Development Services pays for a licensed occupational therapist to complete a four-hour assessment and offers little more than minimum wage. Centers are refusing these referrals. 

If the practice of the last decade continues, state government will add clinicians to the payroll, increasing the taxpayers’ burden and serving fewer children. This dismal spiral fails our most vulnerable population. Centers in Androscoggin County have closed, and more will close under these new rules rushed through by “emergency rulemaking.”

Young children given robust early intervention grow up, but children denied services just get older.

I wish Chief Crowell and Sheriff Desjardins endurance. Their jobs are about to get a lot harder.

Robert Baskett, Ph.D., director of operations

Sandcastle Clinical and Educational Services, Lewiston