Mcps 2E program -declining enrollment?

[Anonymous]

I was watching the BOE session on YouTube. One of the points was that the “enrollment for the GT/LD” was way down” hence less funding allocated.

I have trouble believing that there is “less demand for GT/LD”…as did the BOE members..

I’ve also heard “on paper” Autism Connections enrollment is also down. But in parent groups the conversations are about not getting spots or parents pulling kids out.

What’s really going on with these programs?

[Anonymous]

From a teacher’s point of view, all we are seeing is that central is working REALLY hard to deny all placements. Kids who are completely inappropriately placed are forced to stay in mainstream. Teachers are driven nuts as there is no way to meet their needs. The reason enrollment is declining is only because of central office gatekeeping.

[Anonymous]

This is largely the fault of MSDE, though it's not being widely publicized. They are on MCPS's back about not having enough kids in LRE-A (service hours 80% of more in gen ed) and too many in LRE-C (service hours less than 40% in gen ed). They've picked some arbitrary percentages and are finger-wagging because MCPS doesn't meet them. Whether these percentages are evidence-based or individualized to the child is apparently not relevant to them, or whether families with more needs may come to MCPS because they hear about these programs, thus throwing off the magic percentages, just "more inclusion!" So MCPS is trying to comply by massively gatekeeping and tossing kids into gen ed wherever possible. It's wrong, but MSDE is conveniently hiding their role in triggering the madness.

[Anonymous]

They have also created informal quotas for kids with IEPs in general so they are trying to get rid of them. RTSEs are being given the message to deny and "try first" with a 504.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have also created informal quotas for kids with IEPs in general so they are trying to get rid of them. RTSEs are being given the message to deny and "try first" with a 504.

Wow....that's so sad for the kids whi need help

[Anonymous]

This is so depressing, but echoes what I have heard from teacher friends.

As a parent whose child utilized many of these programs, it makes me so sad that parents now face an even harder time trying to get services for their child because it was certainly no picnic even 5 years ago.