Efforts by Los Angeles school officials to shutter hundreds of special education classrooms are emblematic of a growing trend, critics say, of cost cutting at the expense of students with disabilities.
The Los Angeles Unified School District is planning to close the West Valley Special Education Center, a school dedicated to special education, as well as 200 classes for students with disabilities in other parts of the sprawling district.
The move comes as the nation’s second largest school district struggles to trim millions from its budget. Special education services went over-budget this school year by $628 million, making the program a prime target for number crunchers. Despite the cuts, however, school officials insist that students with disabilities will continue to receive the services they’re entitled to.
Parents and advocates are fighting back and even actor Ed Asner, whose grandson is in special education, is speaking out against the cuts.
But in many ways, these parents seem to be fighting a growing tide, as advocates and attorneys say cost increasingly dictates student outcomes.
“When you fund some of the special ed things, you’re taking from regular kids,” Los Angeles schools’ superintendent Ramon C. Cortines told the Los Angeles Times. To read more click here.
Legally, cost is not a defense. Period. And, an IEP is a contract – unilateral changes are illegal. Period. So, someone needs to sue – hey, look at what happened in Hawaii when a shorter school week was proposed!
The quote from Cortines does not surprise me at all. This jerk has been screwing up LA schools since he took office, and he does not seem to understand he needs to advocate for all students in the district, not just the ‘regular’ kids.
‘When you fund some of the special ed things, you’re taking from regular kids’- ahh I hate hearing that or its not fair to the other children. That is a load of bs if I have ever heard any. So hey should let children who need supports not have anything and put them with nothing in a reg ed classroom? How is that fair? What is fair is leveling the playing field. A child with autism who has a 1-1 aide and has accommodations and modifications puts them close to having the same ‘fair chance’ the rest of the children get. Clearly this superintendent knows NOTHING about education and children with disabilities. So when these children who are not getting the services they need graduate and do not know how to function in society what are they going to do? Help these children now so then down the line you are not paying unemployment and public aid because they are independent and successful! Its called preventive care! The cycle will never be broken without education, a real and fair education!