Department of Education officials are okaying a Missouri school district’s plan to require preschoolers with disabilities to attend a new special education center over objections from area parents.
Currently, Springfield, Mo. children with disabilities attend preschool within neighborhood schools where special education classes include typically developing children who often serve as role models. But when a new early childhood special education center is completed early next year, all special education preschoolers will be forced to move to the new facility.
A local parent filed a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights arguing that unilaterally moving all special education students away from their zoned schools denies them their right to an education in the least restrictive environment. But this week the department found that the school district plan is perfectly legal, reports the (Springfield, Mo.) News-Leader. To read more click here.
Are these school administrators out of their minds. I know Missouri is the “show me state” but inclusion has been shown, researched to death, and shown again for over 30 years. I hope the parents sue the pants off these people. The state of Missouri and ALL Professionals should be embarrassed. What is wrong with these people?
I see they filed under Title II and 504 – seems they didn’t push IDEA?
This school district seems very progressive. In truth, it was simply a matter of time before the parents filed a law suit against the district–in an effort to get the district to foot the bill for a privately operated special needs school. I work for a special needs school. I know the process all too well. I applaud the district for trying to address the needs of differentlyabled students in its community–instead of shipping them out of district.