Parents in one Connecticut town are threatening to sue after learning that special educators would bear the brunt of proposed layoffs while other teachers would be unaffected.

Under a budget plan from the superintendent of the Stamford, Conn. school district, 12 special education teachers would be let go in addition to five of the district’s social workers and four speech pathologists. Meanwhile, it would be business as usual for the regular education staff.

Now, a special education attorney says she will file suit on behalf of a number of students should the school district proceed with the cuts, which she calls “disproportionate.” Specifically, the attorney argues that since individualized education programs, or IEPs, for students with disabilities are written based on need — not available resources — it is unreasonable to trim special education staff.

School district officials, however, say that reducing the special education staff would not hinder their ability to meet requirements spelled out in student IEPs, pointing out that special education student to teacher ratios would remain below the average for similar districts in the state, reports the Stamford (Conn.) Advocate. To read more click here.

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