Making Special Education Approriate

I subscribe to a weekly newsletter from the National Education Association, and I always scan it for articles regarding special education.

Disability rights law is still fairly new in our country, but according to the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities are entitled to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. If at any time parents feel that their public school district does not provide their children with an appropriate education, they can press charges or even put their children in private schools and have the district pay the tuition.

In Greenwich, Connecticut, it seems that their special education program is struggling. In the last year, 46 cases arose in which families invoked their due process rights. In order to see why these families do not feel the special education in the Greenwich district is appropriate, they are sending graduate school students in to do research and follow families through the process of their cases.

I think it is really wise of the Greenwich school district to recognize that perhaps there is a problem with their program and to make an effort to research and resolve those problems. Do all school districts respond in this sort of way, or do they let cases like this arise all of the time? I think it would be fascinating to be one of those grad students involved because it would give greater understanding to what families of students with disabilities go through and to also gain a better understanding of what an appropriate education is. It will be interesting to hear what the grad students' findings are.

More information about the situation can be found at http://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/School-district-looks-to-seek-outside-perspective-452918.php#page-1