Special Education A Chronic Challenge For D.C. Schools

Even among large urban school districts, the special education system in the District of Columbia faces seemingly insurmountable problems. With a new superintendent and a recently announced plan to restructure and improve the Washington schools, the district is once again ready to confront these challenges. However, the task is overwhelming. Special education students now account for approximately 20 percent of the district’s 62,000-student enrollment, and this proportion is continuing to grow.

In most school systems, a due-process hearing governed by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is considered a last resort for special education disputes. However, in the District of Columbia, it has become the norm. This time-consuming legal process is available to parents who disagree with the individualized education program established for their child under the IDEA or who believe that the school system is not meeting their child’s needs and seek an alternative placement. Officials from Washington’s school system receive numerous requests for due-process hearings each month. In the 1999-2000 school year alone, the school district conducted 419 such hearings. To put this in perspective, the entire state of California only held 197 special education due-process hearings in that same year, according to statistics compiled by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education based in Alexandria, Virginia.

Unfortunately, when these due-process hearings take place, the Washington district tends to lose. As a result, approximately one-third of the city’s special education students end up enrolled in private schools or other school districts at public expense. In its proposed fiscal 2006 budget, the school system allocates $105.4 million for private school tuition for special education students, which accounts for about 10 percent of the budget.

Therefore, when District of Columbia Superintendent of Schools Clifford B. Janey unveiled his plans to improve the troubled system, he made sure to address the issues surrounding special education. Speaking at the Kelly Miller Middle School, Mr. Janey emphasized the need to reduce the costs associated with out-of-district placements. In an interview, he stated that this has been a major concern for the school system. Although his plan lacked specific details that night, he mentioned the importance of creating a more inclusive environment for students with disabilities and providing in-district services for those currently placed outside the system at a significant expense. Additionally, he expressed his goal of developing "best practice" models that other schools in the system can adopt from successful programs. Mr. Janey, who previously served as the superintendent of the public schools in Rochester, New York, assumed leadership of the District of Columbia system in 2004.

However, building trust between parents and school officials regarding special education will likely be a long-term endeavor, as deeply rooted negative sentiments need to be overcome.

“I have empathy for all parties involved,” Ms. Spitz expressed. Brooke Lehmann, a partner at Childworks, a consulting firm in Washington specializing in children and family issues, has voluntarily advocated for parents with children in need of special education services. She believes that the school system won’t be able to effectively address its special education challenges until the city recognizes that it’s not solely a problem for schools.

According to Ms. Lehmann, schools serve as a primary source of healthcare services for children in Washington. Therefore, other city agencies must enhance their support services for children. This would ensure that parents don’t solely rely on schools to provide assistance for children with severe needs who have no other means of help. Ms. Lehmann has actively worked towards enrolling children into special education programs, as she believes it’s the only way they can access counseling for some of their needs.

"These children are a part of this city," Ms. Lehmann stated. "Thus, we can’t confine the issue to just one agency."