Newsweek: "Schools Are Killing My Son's Autism Support Under the Veil of Equity"

[Anonymous]

xminds has a good description of the program:

https://xminds.org/elementary-services

it looks like Darnestown is a program for kids on the spectrum who need more intensive behavioral support but are more or less on target academically. putting those kids into a general ed setting is going to be a disaster - they’re all going to end up private-placed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any program that has more minorities, costs more, or requires a lot of hard to find SpEd staff is on the chopping block. They always use equity as the excuse. I find it to be a new form of racism in some cases if they are just trying to hide the numbers by mixing it in with general Ed schools.

First of all, Darnestown is whiter than the MCPS average by quite a bit.

Second of all, how is cutting a program with more minorities about equity?

Third, who (except for the blogger linked in the OP) said this was about equity.

There's someone claiming it is about equity, but I think that's just for the clicks, because no one has explained how that is the case.

Did you read the article? She explained it pretty clearly:

“ Frustratingly, autism programs are being emaciated under the veil of equity and efficiency: That by combining kids with autism who were receiving the support they needed with other children with various learning disabilities with less specialized support means that all needs will be met.”

It’s about mainstreaming.

I really feel for these parents. These are exactly the kids that trigger all the posts here about “my child has been hit” or “what can I do about the chair thrower.” That’s what happens when kids w intensive support needs are in a bad environment. MCPS is going to be on the hook for $$$ in private placements and is going to cause a whole lot of distress to parents, children and teachers in the interim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are these programs being killed under the veil of equity? I read the article and I came away with they were being killed because of budgetary reasons. What are the equity reasons?

This 100% this.

You read well. Others do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:xminds has a good description of the program:

https://xminds.org/elementary-services

it looks like Darnestown is a program for kids on the spectrum who need more intensive behavioral support but are more or less on target academically. putting those kids into a general ed setting is going to be a disaster - they’re all going to end up private-placed.

Not if we go the way of Moms4Liberty and vouchers.

Remember privates do not have to take any student they do not want to. Many do not have services for these kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are these programs being killed under the veil of equity? I read the article and I came away with they were being killed because of budgetary reasons. What are the equity reasons?

This 100% this.

You read well. Others do not.

Also they were staffed for 60 kids but they don’t have 60 kids and even less are registered for next year.

[Anonymous]

I think equity may be referring to the fact that MCPS would not make the program available to students who live down/East county due to the excessive length of the bus ride which can be very challenging for many students. There was no will or budget to replicate the program.

[Anonymous]

Some schools are getting rid of self contained programs and mainstreaming their entire special education population. They then "serve" those students through resource minutes. Because there is such a shortage of special Ed teachers and because sped is so underfunded, this serves both those situations. A district needs 40 sped teachers and can only find 25? No problem, go resource. (push in for 30 minutes here or there) Not saying it's good or right, but this is what is happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:xminds has a good description of the program:

https://xminds.org/elementary-services

it looks like Darnestown is a program for kids on the spectrum who need more intensive behavioral support but are more or less on target academically. putting those kids into a general ed setting is going to be a disaster - they’re all going to end up private-placed.

Not if we go the way of Moms4Liberty and vouchers.

Remember privates do not have to take any student they do not want to. Many do not have services for these kids.

You don’t understand. They’ll go to private special education schools. That’s where kids go whose behavior cannot be handled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are these programs being killed under the veil of equity? I read the article and I came away with they were being killed because of budgetary reasons. What are the equity reasons?

This 100% this.

You read well. Others do not.

Also they were staffed for 60 kids but they don’t have 60 kids and even less are registered for next year.

she’s totally clear in her article - the equity is mainstreaming kids.

as for the number of kids enrolled, guess who controlls that? mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy, I have to hand it to the Darnestown parents: They are not going down without a fight!

I don't even know what this means.

I don't think this is a complex thought. That you can't understand what it means is troubling....

It’s more troubling that you can’t explain it and are lashing out instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think equity may be referring to the fact that MCPS would not make the program available to students who live down/East county due to the excessive length of the bus ride which can be very challenging for many students. There was no will or budget to replicate the program.

let me repeat this:

Did you read the article? She explained it pretty clearly:

“ Frustratingly, autism programs are being emaciated under the veil of equity and efficiency: That by combining kids with autism who were receiving the support they needed with other children with various learning disabilities with less specialized support means that all needs will be met.”

It’s about mainstreaming.

I guess this isn’t the SN board so people don’t get it 🤷‍♀️ But you’ll SURE be back here squawking about how those parents need to “do something” about their “bad kid” who is tearing up the classroom. When that happens please remember that MCPS ended the program where those kids could be cared for more appropriately. Enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boy, I have to hand it to the Darnestown parents: They are not going down without a fight!

I don't even know what this means.

I don't think this is a complex thought. That you can't understand what it means is troubling....

It’s more troubling that you can’t explain it and are lashing out instead.

DP. Do you … actually not understand?

[Anonymous]

“ Designed in consultation with the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Dr. Andrew Egel, this program scaffolds the development of critical skills to mainstream kids with autism into general education, allowing them to learn alongside typically developing children.”

I can’t believe ANYONE would willingly end an autism program run by Kennedy Kreiger. That’s one of the best programs in the country, MCPS will never be able to recreate it. Many children will certainly suffer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ Designed in consultation with the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Dr. Andrew Egel, this program scaffolds the development of critical skills to mainstream kids with autism into general education, allowing them to learn alongside typically developing children.”

I can’t believe ANYONE would willingly end an autism program run by Kennedy Kreiger. That’s one of the best programs in the country, MCPS will never be able to recreate it. Many children will certainly suffer.

I’m not sure if KKI is still involved but yeah - it’s shocking they would get rid of a program that is coherently designed *by experts* to help some of the highest needs kids, that parents actually like. It’s depressing is what it is. As if they don’t believe there are actually better and worse ways to do things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are these programs being killed under the veil of equity? I read the article and I came away with they were being killed because of budgetary reasons. What are the equity reasons?

This 100% this.

You read well. Others do not.

How much does mcps spend on equity initiatives?