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Parents voice concerns with special education programs
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Posted by editor Tue Nov 30, 1999 00:00:00 PST
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1 response 0 comments A special meeting between the California Department of Education and local concerned parents was held on April 20 in the Tehachapi High School Library.
Such meetings are held throughout the state in order to help develop “monitoring plans” for school districts.

Representatives from the CDE invited parents to express their opinions of the school’s special education program and whether it was meeting their children's’ needs.

Prior to the meeting, parents of children enrolled in the Tehachapi Unified School District’s special education program were mailed questionnaires and invited to the meeting. Eighteen concerned parents attended.

TUSD has approximately 512 students in the special education program.
“Parent input is critical in identifying areas that are of concern,” CDE consultant James Johnson said. “We need to know the parents’ experiences with the school district and what special education programs the district offers.”

Moderators Robin Ryan and Kelly Young asked a series of questions, stressing that it was important for parents to share their children’s experiences and to speak about current information. They also wanted to know what was successful in the Tehachapi programs that they could introduce to other school districts.

Many parents were concerned over the lack of a separate special education class with a smaller teacher to student ratio.

“I have had several teacher conferences but this is the first meeting I have attended. My child is currently in a classroom of 30 children and I would like him to be in a smaller size classroom,” said foster parent Cathy Lueder.

An important part of the special education program is the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and parents were asked if they understand the process and how to help review and revise it as the children’s needs change. Teachers, parents and children develop their IEP and set goals and outcomes for the school year.

While most parents understood what IEP is supposed to accomplish, many felt that if they did not take an active role in monitoring the progress, it was not effective. One parent felt that the IEP was setting her son “up for failure.” Most parents said that the general education teachers do not always have the training or time to see that their children’s needs are met.

One parent said, “I make an appointment with the principal when the goals are not being met. If I explain this to the principal and the teacher, then everything goes smoothly. I ask for progress reports, so I will know if my son did not meet his goals.”
Another parent, who has a high school student, said he and his son has set a goal of going into the Navy. He said his son has set his own goals and attends his IEP meetings and participates in them.

Most parents felt that their children “would fall through the cracks” if they did not stay on top of the system and they questioned the amount of in-service training and support that the general education teachers get from the school district. Parents felt their children’s needs would be better met if there were more individualized teaching with qualified special education teachers.

The information obtained from the meeting will assist the CDE in identifying strengths, weaknesses and trends in the special education at the TUSD.

At the conclusion of their study and review process, they will prepare a Corrective Action Plan; those results will be available by contacting the District Superintendent. Additional information on the California Department of Education is available at www.cde.ca.gov.

Due to the fact that Superintendent Marian Stephens in out of town, the Tehachapi News plans a follow-up story next week.

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