Missed Services for DC Special Education Students !

In spite of Dr. Harris being relieved of her responsibility as the Deputy Chancellor of special education, self-contained programs are still amiss in DC Public schools. Teachers and related service providers continue working out of their certification areas without a reprieve. Special education self-contained programs lack special education teachers. Many lack educational aides while school social workers have been assigned duty to full time E.D. classrooms and are functioning as substitutes, and educational aides. The result: students are missing out on valuable instruction and related services. Check out the email below from a related service provider at the Hamilton-Moten Academy.

September 10, 2008

Hi Candi

"Please don't mention my name however you can discuss my concerns. Yesterday the educational assistant was on leave and the teacher and I were in the classroom. I am asked to do the behavior sheets when it is really the aide's responsibility. On 9-8-08 a 10 year old student swung at me and threatened to come to school with a knife today and stab me. I left a message on the Principal's cell phone and also notified security this morning.

Since we have started school the teacher has taken off three times and the aide two times and one occasion both took off on the same day; only three students came to school on that day and I suggested putting them in another class but the Principal put two aides in the room. I have not been off work since school began. I feel as though I am being forced to be a aide, teacher, and police officer at the Hamilton-Moten Academy which makes it harder to be a clinician for the children when you are seen in these other positions. Also we are mandated to do our medicaid notes, but the service providers do not have access to the Internet and computers. This new model is terrible." Posted by Candi.