VA: Special education will get a special look

By Donna C. Gregory NEWS EDITOR
November 26, 2008
http://www.chesterfieldobserver.com/news/2008/1126/home/004.html

The school system's special education program will get some special attention starting in January when an internal audit will be conducted.

This comes after several parents have alleged their children were abused or neglected while attending special education classes in county schools. A system-wide audit by Phi Delta Kappa International released earlier this year also recommended a closer look at the county's special education programming due to issues with student achievement.

The school system has put the audit Kitchen Package out to bid with proposals due by Dec. 4. Tim Bullis, director of community relations for Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS), declined to give a projected cost for the audit.

"Since the request for proposal is still 'on the street,' we're going to withhold the expected cost. Revealing our expectations could influence, positively or negatively, the end cost," said Bullis.

The audit is expected to answer the following questions:

• How does district staff (teachers, principals, etc.) rate the quality and effectiveness of current services for students with disabilities?

• What does staff see as special strengths of these services?

• What problems or gaps in these services does staff identify?

• How confident is staff about its ability to address any problems or gaps they identify?

• What kinds of support does staff think are necessary to address these problems?

The audit will not include feedback from parents or the larger community, much to the chagrin of some who have been critical of CCPS' special education programming.

"The questions are very generalized, and they are very safe," said parent Priscilla Greene. "An audit is only as good as the information provided."

Greene withdrew her son, Coleman, from Clover Hill Elementary last November after alleging he was harmed while being physically restrained by school staff. The Coleman family has since filed a complaint with the Virginia Department of Education, claiming the school system violated policy by not providing a safe and secure environment for Coleman to attend school.

Greene questions the effectiveness of an audit that doesn't include parental feedback.

Other parents with special education children see the audit as a first step toward improving programming.

"We see it as a good thing, as a self-assessment, that they do their own internal check to see where they are. We're excited that they're actually taking a step…that they proactively have a plan. This is just one of many steps," said Cheryl Curbeam, a member of Supporting Inclusive Education for All (SIEFA), a group of parents who favor inclusion (spending more time in traditional classrooms versus special education classrooms) for their children with special needs. "Parents participating at this point is not helpful."

SIEFA does hope parents will eventually be allowed to participate in the process of discussing special education programming.

"We don't see it as just their journey alone. We believe we have a role to play," said Curbeam.

Asked if parents will be included in later discussions, Bullis replied, "The school division is open to suggestions made by those who may submit proposals. In addition, we have multiple opportunities to receive public input. Our special education staff, principals and teachers work daily with parents during IEP [individualized education plan] meetings and constantly listen to and record their thoughts, concerns and expectations. The state also surveys parents regarding special education, and we are able to take information from that engagement process."

The audit is expected to be completed, including the submission of a full report with recommendations, by Aug. 31 next year.

In addition to parental allegations, the county's special education program has shown other shortcomings. Some middle and high schools failed to make annual yearly progress as part of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation in the students with disabilities subgroup last year.

According to the most recent performance report required by the Virginia Department of Education, CCPS did not meet state targets relating to special education in the areas of drop-out rates, English and math proficiency, inclusion and parental involvement.

"Somewhere along the line something has to change," said Greene.

She questions if the school system's recently adopted six-year strategic plan really applies to all students, particularly its first goal of "academic excellence for all students."

"I feel like the [audit] questions could have been more in line with the strategic plan," said Greene. "If that's what we're working for, then we should be working toward those same goals for special education kids as well. Are they putting forth the same amount of effort in the special education programs as they do in other programs? We can't cherry pick."

Speaking on behalf of SIEFA, Curbeam is confident the school system is going to apply the same goals found in the larger strategic plan to special education programming.

"They have drafted a clear vision of how they would like to deliver services to special education kids in the future, and we as a team buy into that vision."