Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Mar 19, 2008 11:14:13 GMT -5
I've seen some posts on the other board and talked to a therapeutic consultant to 204 about rumored cuts coming in special ed. Does anyone know if there is any truth to these rumors, or is it more piling it on Dr. D?
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Post by momto4 on Mar 19, 2008 11:16:23 GMT -5
I've seen some posts on the other board and talked to a therapeutic consultant to 204 about rumored cuts coming in special ed? Does anyone know if there is any truth to these rumors, or is it more piling it on Dr. D? I heard a rumor to this effect from someone who works in special ed in 203, that they are expecting to pick up some people who are being let go from 204. Again, just a rumor, I have no real information on this.
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Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Mar 19, 2008 11:54:24 GMT -5
I have to say that if they do this while we're sitting on a $91M surplus, I will be completely pissed off.
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Post by momto4 on Mar 19, 2008 12:07:38 GMT -5
I have to say that if they do this while we're sitting on a $91M surplus, I will be completely pissed off. I agree. We are known for excellence in the special education area (I think, based on people moving here to get better services for their kids with special needs) and it would be a shame to do anything that negatively impacts that.
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Post by gandalf on Mar 19, 2008 12:30:17 GMT -5
I've seen some posts on the other board and talked to a therapeutic consultant to 204 about rumored cuts coming in special ed. Does anyone know if there is any truth to these rumors, or is it more piling it on Dr. D? it seems to be the way we are headed - I already know one special needs parent now in litigation with the district -- it seems to be the way of the future. I don't think it's piling on...I think the priorities seem to be changing.. concern is will the arts also change down the road- I was very concerned over how many speakers at the ADK board meeting seemed perfectly fine with art & music on a cart, one even going as far as to say it's just as good as a classroom. The arts and music program in 204 takes a back seat to no one --- today.
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Post by JWH on Mar 19, 2008 12:39:20 GMT -5
I've seen some posts on the other board and talked to a therapeutic consultant to 204 about rumored cuts coming in special ed. Does anyone know if there is any truth to these rumors, or is it more piling it on Dr. D? it seems to be the way we are headed - I already know one special needs parent now in litigation with the district -- it seems to be the way of the future. I don't think it's piling on...I think the priorities seem to be changing.. concern is will the arts also change down the road- I was very concerned over how many speakers at the ADK board meeting seemed perfectly fine with art & music on a cart, one even going as far as to say it's just as good as a classroom. The arts and music program in 204 takes a back seat to no one --- today. I think the parental backing will never allow the arts/music programs to be reduced. This district is absolutely amazing with their music programs.
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Post by momto4 on Mar 19, 2008 12:50:57 GMT -5
I think the parental backing will never allow the arts/music programs to be reduced. I hope you're right about this in this new era where it doesn't matter what parents think, only what (some) research shows. I know you're right about this! I hope it remains this way.
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Post by wvhsparent on Mar 19, 2008 13:05:35 GMT -5
Is the dash not big on special ed?
I guess the best way to find out would be to contact the Admin and ask.
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Post by scarbroughknight on Mar 19, 2008 14:37:41 GMT -5
This will be brutal. I have two special needs kids in middle school. There was already one cut several years ago. #204 was once the best special ed district in the state which was why we came here. The principal at WE told me that #204 doesn't have the staffing it once did due to state cuts. I was told this at Scullen as well.
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Post by wvhsparent on Mar 19, 2008 15:04:59 GMT -5
This will be brutal. I have two special needs kids in middle school. There was already one cut several years ago. #204 was once the best special ed district in the state which was why we came here. The principal at WE told me that #204 doesn't have the staffing it once did due to state cuts. I was told this at Scullen as well. Find out who we all need to contact to keep the Special Ed programs in place and we will all (at least I will) send a request in.
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Post by specialneedsmom on Mar 19, 2008 18:59:57 GMT -5
I have heard Dr. D speak several times on this topic. What he has said is that when they look at the differential between test scores of special needs kids to gen ed kids there is an average range that most districts fall into. In our district the differential is much, much higher. What he has said from this data (and this man is extremely data driven) is that he believes part of the problem to be that in many cases the classroom teacher is not involved enough with these students and there has to be more involvement from the classroom teacher and less reliance on the aide as the teacher.
I think there are situations where this is the case but I don't think that where you go from here is to change the model but rather to fix it, and that is where I have a problem. If what I'm hearing is true, which is that there will be fewer aides, I don't think that you can fix the problem and you will create a situation where inclusion is set up for failure because there is no way the classroom teacher can teach 25+ kids and one or two special needs kids without a classroom aide.
If this is the direction we are headed, and it is a big if, I would suspect that you will see more pullout of IEP students from the regular classroom for delivery of services. Why do I suspect this? Because that would be how you solve the problem and get rid of classroom aides at the same time. If that is what they are intending to do. Every school is different, every building will have its own way of dealing with these issues because under the new way of doing things in 204 every building will have its own school improvement plan.
The person who can answer these questions is Sharon Tate. Also, there is going to be a Special Session of the School Board next Monday at 5:00, before the regular Board Meeting and special ed will be an item on the agenda. Anyone can attend these sessions but there is no public comment; just sit and take notes.
You will have to decide for yourself whether we will continue to be known for our special ed programs. I personally don't think that we will go to a system of tuitioning kids out to special education cooperatives, but I do suspect alot of changes will be made.
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Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Mar 19, 2008 19:13:09 GMT -5
What's your take on the inclusion system specialneedsmom? I know you have a child with autism. I think the inclusion is beneficial for kids with lesser adaptation needs, but I've seen a kid in my son's classroom for 2 years who has what I consider a fairly severe case of autism. If they cut aides as we have heard they will, I can not see any scenario under which this child could stay in the regular classroom. I am not sure in his case (and I know there is a large spectrum of impact, especially with autism), that this would be a bad thing. In 2 years, I have never seen him doing ANY activities that his classmates are doing. With this situation, it seems like he would be better served in a special classroom with a teacher trained to reach him.
I am concerned about both sides of this coin. As a parent of a child receiving some services, I am concerned that students will not get the services and assistance they need, but I am also concerned that cutting funding will adversely impact the education of the general population because the teachers will have more than they can handle.
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Post by specialneedsmom on Mar 19, 2008 21:21:12 GMT -5
I think every situation is different. I have always believed that this district honors least restrictive environment as the regular classroom. But I think there are some situations where least restrictive environment may not be the regular classroom. For example, some children need to be in a smaller more structured environment where delivery of services is different. I also believe that this district has always made every effort to include all children in the school environment and activities even when they are in a special placement. So I have always felt that this district has done the right thing for special needs students.
I don't think it's my right to comment on any child's placement. That's between the school personnel and the parents. I know in my case my child was successfully included in elementary school and once he hit middle school it was time for him to be in a supported education environment with more intense delivery of services and focus on what he needed, life and vocational skills. He's happy and he has peers he can feel comfortable with. One thing that helped me was to see different classrooms and see how these classrooms worked. That's how I made the best decision.
IMO if we cut out more aides and put the responsibility on the classroom teacher we will be causing unreasonable hardship on that teacher. If that is the direction we are headed I will be very disappointed. But I don't think that will happen because that would be an abandonment of the whole process and I don't see that happening.
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Arwen
Master Member
Posts: 933
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Post by Arwen on Mar 19, 2008 21:47:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the perspective SNM. While I haven't had to make a decision about what kind of classroom situation is best, I know from personal experience that having a kid with any kind of special need presents all kinds of learning opportunities as a parent.
It is interesting that 204's achievement gap is wider than average. I wonder if it has anything to do with the population. 204 has been known as a good district for special needs kids, so maybe we've attracted a larger than average population with more severe problems. With every child having unique needs, it seems to me that it would be hard to make an apples-to-apples comparison with other districts.
The fact that Dr. D's pulled out the data for his talking points sends shivers down my spine.
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Post by specialneedsmom on Mar 20, 2008 6:08:01 GMT -5
I think everyone has to draw their own conclusions. My son qualifies for the 1% that gets alternative testing. But in general many of these kids are statistically unattractive. Couple that with the fact that Dr. D. did not come from a district that does things the way we do and it could be a recipe for change, IMO. I don't think that sitting back and waiting to see what will happen will be a good game plan. Be proactive, ask lots of questions. The squeaky wheel always gets the oil.
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