Think twice before hiring an advocate…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If school staff met kids needs parents and advocates would not need to step in to advocate. Our principal was a huge bully as was the special education teacher. They did not get my child. Some teachers tried and went above and beyond, but most didn’t get our child. The principal would scream at us about things in our iep meetings that made no sense acting like we were dumb and had no clue. We had our child in many many hours of private services starting at age two, multiple private evaluations, which we gave them. Our private therapists reached out multiple times to school staff to coordinate services and school staff refused to meet with them. They tried to bully us onto a false school diagnosis so they could keep their special education teachers but would not offer more services based off the diagnosis. In hindsight I should have hired an advocate but instead we walked away from the useless iep that they did not follow and was recycled from another child, whose name was in it with multiple careless mistakes and continued in private services. In the end our efforts paid off without school help but most people cannot or will not do what we did nor would that work for the majority of kids.

People like op need to be fired. No services are sometimes better than bad services, which really hurt my child as they were pulled out of class for groups that did not work on my child’s needs but focused on other higher needs kids.

Op, not being cold, but staffing issues are not parents problems. Other kids are not our problem too. We want all kids to get the help they need but as parents our focus is getting our kids the help they need so they can be successful now and in the future.

And, thank you to the amazing teachers and staff who do go above and beyond to help our kids be successful. Don’t think for a moment we don’t see what you do but sometimes parents are just trying to survive and things like a simple thank you get forgotten, especially when we hit that stage in life with our kids, aging parents, work and our own health issues.

I’d encourage any parent who can afford it to get an advocate. It’s very hard going into meetings where the focus is to get out of helping vs helping.

I have never experienced this in FCPS. I have worked with wonderful, caring, professional, intelligent, accountable, staff. I believe that there are bad apples out there. But the OP said a family had an advocate for a team tjhey have never met before. Many families come with an advocate or an attorney to an initial referrral or meeting. They have no trust or respect and aren't assuming good will. OP said "assume good will." Families are never assuming positive intent of staff anymore. This is why staff don't want to work for FCPS.

And yes- you should care about other kids. You should care about staff. It IS your problem. It DOES affect your child and all children and the future of our country. You are responsible to more than just your child.

You wrote "the focus is to get out of helping vs helping." I have never once experienced that or seen that by FCPS staff. I have seen many families expect special education services for their children who do not meet DOE requirements, and get mad at FCPS or a school for following DOE guidelines, and it goes to battle with an advocate until FCPS gives in to make the battle and hostility stop.

FCPS schools have finite resources. There simply are not enough hours available to give every kid the IEP they need and to meet the requirements. Principals know this and push where they can get away with it. Blame the county, state, and federal governments for not adequately funding special education.

Bingo. The vast majority (99%) of SPED educators absolutely want to support kids to the best of their ability. However, they are extremely limited by lack of funding/workload.

We need a shift in our country to prioritize - and fund - education, including SPED.

I fully believe this. I have never met a special educator who truly believed they were doing "enough," although many felt they were doing all they could. The funding situation is pathetic and until SPED gets all of the funding promised in IDEA, we're going to keep having these massive issues. That being said, I'll keep my attorney on retainer. Because the only time the school listened was when I brought her. The "system" isn't my concern. My child is. And if the system has to suffer to get him the education he's entitled to, so be it. Parents and their hired advocates/attorneys are the only force keeping these programs marginally compliant.

Yes, unfortunately the funding/staffing levels just aren't there to provide all of the legally-required services. Some kids will get a boost from advocates, but the vast majority won't.

It's a terrible situation that no one wants to address.

Most of these school systems have plenty of money, its how they choose to spend it.

What specifically do you suggest they cut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which schools have team taught AP?(!!)

PP here. My preference is not to share as it would likely identify me and my DS.

Got it.

Hoping our HS offers this by the time my kid gets to HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents are unrealistic about what public schools can provide. There are finite resources. Everyone is fighting for a bigger slice of pie for their child. Fair enough but something has to give. And neurotypical kids need resources + time and attention as well.

Schools get additional funding for SN kids. For each SN child coded in a specific way (which is why they push specific diagnosis) they get more funding for sped teachers. So, yes, it's reasonable to expect support given they are using our kids for those additional resources.

And yet, teachers keep trying to patiently explain that it is not enough

Try explaining this to your state rep then.

I don't have the time or audience to do so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If school staff met kids needs parents and advocates would not need to step in to advocate. Our principal was a huge bully as was the special education teacher. They did not get my child. Some teachers tried and went above and beyond, but most didn’t get our child. The principal would scream at us about things in our iep meetings that made no sense acting like we were dumb and had no clue. We had our child in many many hours of private services starting at age two, multiple private evaluations, which we gave them. Our private therapists reached out multiple times to school staff to coordinate services and school staff refused to meet with them. They tried to bully us onto a false school diagnosis so they could keep their special education teachers but would not offer more services based off the diagnosis. In hindsight I should have hired an advocate but instead we walked away from the useless iep that they did not follow and was recycled from another child, whose name was in it with multiple careless mistakes and continued in private services. In the end our efforts paid off without school help but most people cannot or will not do what we did nor would that work for the majority of kids.

People like op need to be fired. No services are sometimes better than bad services, which really hurt my child as they were pulled out of class for groups that did not work on my child’s needs but focused on other higher needs kids.

Op, not being cold, but staffing issues are not parents problems. Other kids are not our problem too. We want all kids to get the help they need but as parents our focus is getting our kids the help they need so they can be successful now and in the future.

And, thank you to the amazing teachers and staff who do go above and beyond to help our kids be successful. Don’t think for a moment we don’t see what you do but sometimes parents are just trying to survive and things like a simple thank you get forgotten, especially when we hit that stage in life with our kids, aging parents, work and our own health issues.

I’d encourage any parent who can afford it to get an advocate. It’s very hard going into meetings where the focus is to get out of helping vs helping.

I have never experienced this in FCPS. I have worked with wonderful, caring, professional, intelligent, accountable, staff. I believe that there are bad apples out there. But the OP said a family had an advocate for a team tjhey have never met before. Many families come with an advocate or an attorney to an initial referrral or meeting. They have no trust or respect and aren't assuming good will. OP said "assume good will." Families are never assuming positive intent of staff anymore. This is why staff don't want to work for FCPS.

And yes- you should care about other kids. You should care about staff. It IS your problem. It DOES affect your child and all children and the future of our country. You are responsible to more than just your child.

You wrote "the focus is to get out of helping vs helping." I have never once experienced that or seen that by FCPS staff. I have seen many families expect special education services for their children who do not meet DOE requirements, and get mad at FCPS or a school for following DOE guidelines, and it goes to battle with an advocate until FCPS gives in to make the battle and hostility stop.

FCPS schools have finite resources. There simply are not enough hours available to give every kid the IEP they need and to meet the requirements. Principals know this and push where they can get away with it. Blame the county, state, and federal governments for not adequately funding special education.

Bingo. The vast majority (99%) of SPED educators absolutely want to support kids to the best of their ability. However, they are extremely limited by lack of funding/workload.

We need a shift in our country to prioritize - and fund - education, including SPED.

I fully believe this. I have never met a special educator who truly believed they were doing "enough," although many felt they were doing all they could. The funding situation is pathetic and until SPED gets all of the funding promised in IDEA, we're going to keep having these massive issues. That being said, I'll keep my attorney on retainer. Because the only time the school listened was when I brought her. The "system" isn't my concern. My child is. And if the system has to suffer to get him the education he's entitled to, so be it. Parents and their hired advocates/attorneys are the only force keeping these programs marginally compliant.

Yes, unfortunately the funding/staffing levels just aren't there to provide all of the legally-required services. Some kids will get a boost from advocates, but the vast majority won't.

It's a terrible situation that no one wants to address.

Most of these school systems have plenty of money, its how they choose to spend it.

What specifically do you suggest they cut?

DC can start by cutting the listening sessions to re-imagine high schools?
Maybe the Foreign Language instruction early elementary that is for 45 min a week but does not continue to upper elementary?
The travel basketball league for elementary school (as well as the cross country for elementary school)

I just found you at least 1 head count for every elementary school

[Anonymous]

Have the public schools open up their books to the public. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have the public schools open up their books to the public. Problem solved.

You can Google your county and their yearly school budget. They're about 200 pages, but it's a very quick read. You'd be surprised how much money goes into maintaining useless central office staff salaries and how comparatively little is allocated to Special Education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If school staff met kids needs parents and advocates would not need to step in to advocate. Our principal was a huge bully as was the special education teacher. They did not get my child. Some teachers tried and went above and beyond, but most didn’t get our child. The principal would scream at us about things in our iep meetings that made no sense acting like we were dumb and had no clue. We had our child in many many hours of private services starting at age two, multiple private evaluations, which we gave them. Our private therapists reached out multiple times to school staff to coordinate services and school staff refused to meet with them. They tried to bully us onto a false school diagnosis so they could keep their special education teachers but would not offer more services based off the diagnosis. In hindsight I should have hired an advocate but instead we walked away from the useless iep that they did not follow and was recycled from another child, whose name was in it with multiple careless mistakes and continued in private services. In the end our efforts paid off without school help but most people cannot or will not do what we did nor would that work for the majority of kids.

People like op need to be fired. No services are sometimes better than bad services, which really hurt my child as they were pulled out of class for groups that did not work on my child’s needs but focused on other higher needs kids.

Op, not being cold, but staffing issues are not parents problems. Other kids are not our problem too. We want all kids to get the help they need but as parents our focus is getting our kids the help they need so they can be successful now and in the future.

And, thank you to the amazing teachers and staff who do go above and beyond to help our kids be successful. Don’t think for a moment we don’t see what you do but sometimes parents are just trying to survive and things like a simple thank you get forgotten, especially when we hit that stage in life with our kids, aging parents, work and our own health issues.

I’d encourage any parent who can afford it to get an advocate. It’s very hard going into meetings where the focus is to get out of helping vs helping.

I have never experienced this in FCPS. I have worked with wonderful, caring, professional, intelligent, accountable, staff. I believe that there are bad apples out there. But the OP said a family had an advocate for a team tjhey have never met before. Many families come with an advocate or an attorney to an initial referrral or meeting. They have no trust or respect and aren't assuming good will. OP said "assume good will." Families are never assuming positive intent of staff anymore. This is why staff don't want to work for FCPS.

And yes- you should care about other kids. You should care about staff. It IS your problem. It DOES affect your child and all children and the future of our country. You are responsible to more than just your child.

You wrote "the focus is to get out of helping vs helping." I have never once experienced that or seen that by FCPS staff. I have seen many families expect special education services for their children who do not meet DOE requirements, and get mad at FCPS or a school for following DOE guidelines, and it goes to battle with an advocate until FCPS gives in to make the battle and hostility stop.

FCPS schools have finite resources. There simply are not enough hours available to give every kid the IEP they need and to meet the requirements. Principals know this and push where they can get away with it. Blame the county, state, and federal governments for not adequately funding special education.

Bingo. The vast majority (99%) of SPED educators absolutely want to support kids to the best of their ability. However, they are extremely limited by lack of funding/workload.

We need a shift in our country to prioritize - and fund - education, including SPED.

I fully believe this. I have never met a special educator who truly believed they were doing "enough," although many felt they were doing all they could. The funding situation is pathetic and until SPED gets all of the funding promised in IDEA, we're going to keep having these massive issues. That being said, I'll keep my attorney on retainer. Because the only time the school listened was when I brought her. The "system" isn't my concern. My child is. And if the system has to suffer to get him the education he's entitled to, so be it. Parents and their hired advocates/attorneys are the only force keeping these programs marginally compliant.

Yes, unfortunately the funding/staffing levels just aren't there to provide all of the legally-required services. Some kids will get a boost from advocates, but the vast majority won't.

It's a terrible situation that no one wants to address.

Most of these school systems have plenty of money, its how they choose to spend it.

What specifically do you suggest they cut?

Well, MCPS could stop paying Casey Crouse, the Damascus Principal who mishandled the locker room broom rape, whom they've been paying for like 5 years with a job in Central Office to keep her quiet. Also, perhaps SPED would have an extra 9 million dollars if MCPS didn't have to pay it out on the suit that was filed by the victims. (Although, the victims fully deserve it for something that never should have happened in the first place.)

Frankly, no one wants to address it adequately (meaning the funding necessary for special education) because a significant number of teachers and educators and the general public still believe in the stigmas that special education children aren't capable of much or aren't deserving of help because they're only a little behind and in any case are a problem largely because of their bad parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents are unrealistic about what public schools can provide. There are finite resources. Everyone is fighting for a bigger slice of pie for their child. Fair enough but something has to give. And neurotypical kids need resources + time and attention as well.

Schools get additional funding for SN kids. For each SN child coded in a specific way (which is why they push specific diagnosis) they get more funding for sped teachers. So, yes, it's reasonable to expect support given they are using our kids for those additional resources.

Do you know how much is spend per student, and how much additional funding is allocated to your SN child? Somehow that amount needs to be balanced with the services provided.

The issue is not the travel basketball team or the central office salaries, or the federal government etc. The issue is that one on one instruction most SN kids need is very expensive. But that isn’t news to anyone because if it were cheap parents would just get those services privately. Most people don’t. Even if SN kids get double the funding allocation (unheard of), at roughly $200 an hour your child will get 1-2 hours a week over the school year.

There was a mom on this thread that got 60 minutes a week reading intervention, that’s about $7500 that someone has to pay. I agree you should advocate for your child, but don’t assume the people across the table are malicious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If school staff met kids needs parents and advocates would not need to step in to advocate. Our principal was a huge bully as was the special education teacher. They did not get my child. Some teachers tried and went above and beyond, but most didn’t get our child. The principal would scream at us about things in our iep meetings that made no sense acting like we were dumb and had no clue. We had our child in many many hours of private services starting at age two, multiple private evaluations, which we gave them. Our private therapists reached out multiple times to school staff to coordinate services and school staff refused to meet with them. They tried to bully us onto a false school diagnosis so they could keep their special education teachers but would not offer more services based off the diagnosis. In hindsight I should have hired an advocate but instead we walked away from the useless iep that they did not follow and was recycled from another child, whose name was in it with multiple careless mistakes and continued in private services. In the end our efforts paid off without school help but most people cannot or will not do what we did nor would that work for the majority of kids.

People like op need to be fired. No services are sometimes better than bad services, which really hurt my child as they were pulled out of class for groups that did not work on my child’s needs but focused on other higher needs kids.

Op, not being cold, but staffing issues are not parents problems. Other kids are not our problem too. We want all kids to get the help they need but as parents our focus is getting our kids the help they need so they can be successful now and in the future.

And, thank you to the amazing teachers and staff who do go above and beyond to help our kids be successful. Don’t think for a moment we don’t see what you do but sometimes parents are just trying to survive and things like a simple thank you get forgotten, especially when we hit that stage in life with our kids, aging parents, work and our own health issues.

I’d encourage any parent who can afford it to get an advocate. It’s very hard going into meetings where the focus is to get out of helping vs helping.

I have never experienced this in FCPS. I have worked with wonderful, caring, professional, intelligent, accountable, staff. I believe that there are bad apples out there. But the OP said a family had an advocate for a team tjhey have never met before. Many families come with an advocate or an attorney to an initial referrral or meeting. They have no trust or respect and aren't assuming good will. OP said "assume good will." Families are never assuming positive intent of staff anymore. This is why staff don't want to work for FCPS.

And yes- you should care about other kids. You should care about staff. It IS your problem. It DOES affect your child and all children and the future of our country. You are responsible to more than just your child.

You wrote "the focus is to get out of helping vs helping." I have never once experienced that or seen that by FCPS staff. I have seen many families expect special education services for their children who do not meet DOE requirements, and get mad at FCPS or a school for following DOE guidelines, and it goes to battle with an advocate until FCPS gives in to make the battle and hostility stop.

FCPS schools have finite resources. There simply are not enough hours available to give every kid the IEP they need and to meet the requirements. Principals know this and push where they can get away with it. Blame the county, state, and federal governments for not adequately funding special education.

Bingo. The vast majority (99%) of SPED educators absolutely want to support kids to the best of their ability. However, they are extremely limited by lack of funding/workload.

We need a shift in our country to prioritize - and fund - education, including SPED.

I fully believe this. I have never met a special educator who truly believed they were doing "enough," although many felt they were doing all they could. The funding situation is pathetic and until SPED gets all of the funding promised in IDEA, we're going to keep having these massive issues. That being said, I'll keep my attorney on retainer. Because the only time the school listened was when I brought her. The "system" isn't my concern. My child is. And if the system has to suffer to get him the education he's entitled to, so be it. Parents and their hired advocates/attorneys are the only force keeping these programs marginally compliant.

Yes, unfortunately the funding/staffing levels just aren't there to provide all of the legally-required services. Some kids will get a boost from advocates, but the vast majority won't.

It's a terrible situation that no one wants to address.

Most of these school systems have plenty of money, its how they choose to spend it.

What specifically do you suggest they cut?

DC can start by cutting the listening sessions to re-imagine high schools?
Maybe the Foreign Language instruction early elementary that is for 45 min a week but does not continue to upper elementary?
The travel basketball league for elementary school (as well as the cross country for elementary school)

I just found you at least 1 head count for every elementary school

Ok. And how to fund the rest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have the public schools open up their books to the public. Problem solved.

Where are you that doesn’t have public budget data?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If school staff met kids needs parents and advocates would not need to step in to advocate. Our principal was a huge bully as was the special education teacher. They did not get my child. Some teachers tried and went above and beyond, but most didn’t get our child. The principal would scream at us about things in our iep meetings that made no sense acting like we were dumb and had no clue. We had our child in many many hours of private services starting at age two, multiple private evaluations, which we gave them. Our private therapists reached out multiple times to school staff to coordinate services and school staff refused to meet with them. They tried to bully us onto a false school diagnosis so they could keep their special education teachers but would not offer more services based off the diagnosis. In hindsight I should have hired an advocate but instead we walked away from the useless iep that they did not follow and was recycled from another child, whose name was in it with multiple careless mistakes and continued in private services. In the end our efforts paid off without school help but most people cannot or will not do what we did nor would that work for the majority of kids.

People like op need to be fired. No services are sometimes better than bad services, which really hurt my child as they were pulled out of class for groups that did not work on my child’s needs but focused on other higher needs kids.

Op, not being cold, but staffing issues are not parents problems. Other kids are not our problem too. We want all kids to get the help they need but as parents our focus is getting our kids the help they need so they can be successful now and in the future.

And, thank you to the amazing teachers and staff who do go above and beyond to help our kids be successful. Don’t think for a moment we don’t see what you do but sometimes parents are just trying to survive and things like a simple thank you get forgotten, especially when we hit that stage in life with our kids, aging parents, work and our own health issues.

I’d encourage any parent who can afford it to get an advocate. It’s very hard going into meetings where the focus is to get out of helping vs helping.

I have never experienced this in FCPS. I have worked with wonderful, caring, professional, intelligent, accountable, staff. I believe that there are bad apples out there. But the OP said a family had an advocate for a team tjhey have never met before. Many families come with an advocate or an attorney to an initial referrral or meeting. They have no trust or respect and aren't assuming good will. OP said "assume good will." Families are never assuming positive intent of staff anymore. This is why staff don't want to work for FCPS.

And yes- you should care about other kids. You should care about staff. It IS your problem. It DOES affect your child and all children and the future of our country. You are responsible to more than just your child.

You wrote "the focus is to get out of helping vs helping." I have never once experienced that or seen that by FCPS staff. I have seen many families expect special education services for their children who do not meet DOE requirements, and get mad at FCPS or a school for following DOE guidelines, and it goes to battle with an advocate until FCPS gives in to make the battle and hostility stop.

FCPS schools have finite resources. There simply are not enough hours available to give every kid the IEP they need and to meet the requirements. Principals know this and push where they can get away with it. Blame the county, state, and federal governments for not adequately funding special education.

Bingo. The vast majority (99%) of SPED educators absolutely want to support kids to the best of their ability. However, they are extremely limited by lack of funding/workload.

We need a shift in our country to prioritize - and fund - education, including SPED.

I fully believe this. I have never met a special educator who truly believed they were doing "enough," although many felt they were doing all they could. The funding situation is pathetic and until SPED gets all of the funding promised in IDEA, we're going to keep having these massive issues. That being said, I'll keep my attorney on retainer. Because the only time the school listened was when I brought her. The "system" isn't my concern. My child is. And if the system has to suffer to get him the education he's entitled to, so be it. Parents and their hired advocates/attorneys are the only force keeping these programs marginally compliant.

Yes, unfortunately the funding/staffing levels just aren't there to provide all of the legally-required services. Some kids will get a boost from advocates, but the vast majority won't.

It's a terrible situation that no one wants to address.

Most of these school systems have plenty of money, its how they choose to spend it.

What specifically do you suggest they cut?

Well, MCPS could stop paying Casey Crouse, the Damascus Principal who mishandled the locker room broom rape, whom they've been paying for like 5 years with a job in Central Office to keep her quiet. Also, perhaps SPED would have an extra 9 million dollars if MCPS didn't have to pay it out on the suit that was filed by the victims. (Although, the victims fully deserve it for something that never should have happened in the first place.)

Frankly, no one wants to address it adequately (meaning the funding necessary for special education) because a significant number of teachers and educators and the general public still believe in the stigmas that special education children aren't capable of much or aren't deserving of help because they're only a little behind and in any case are a problem largely because of their bad parents.

No one wants to blow their political capital on SN kids.

[Anonymous]

I’m surprised about how little parents of SN kids know about how those programs are funded. Theres is a huge discrepancy between what’s needed and what’s funded. There’s nowhere near enough money to provide the needed services. At our school the PTA main job is to raise money for special ed, roughly 65k out of the 100k yearly budget so it is literally funded through charity. The interventionist is split between the school because in some years she might not be covered.

Another uncomfortable truth, the services your kid gets are the services another SN kid won’t, because money doesn’t appear based on what’s in the IEP, it’s just that the pie is cut in different slices.

I’m not commenting if it’s fair or not, it’s just the way things are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have the public schools open up their books to the public. Problem solved.

You can Google your county and their yearly school budget. They're about 200 pages, but it's a very quick read. You'd be surprised how much money goes into maintaining useless central office staff salaries and how comparatively little is allocated to Special Education.

That's what I was getting at.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised about how little parents of SN kids know about how those programs are funded. Theres is a huge discrepancy between what’s needed and what’s funded. There’s nowhere near enough money to provide the needed services. At our school the PTA main job is to raise money for special ed, roughly 65k out of the 100k yearly budget so it is literally funded through charity. The interventionist is split between the school because in some years she might not be covered.

Another uncomfortable truth, the services your kid gets are the services another SN kid won’t, because money doesn’t appear based on what’s in the IEP, it’s just that the pie is cut in different slices.

I’m not commenting if it’s fair or not, it’s just the way things are.

I'm surprised that you have never looked at the budget.

Mine has over 10% of funding go to central administration. 1% to special ed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised about how little parents of SN kids know about how those programs are funded. Theres is a huge discrepancy between what’s needed and what’s funded. There’s nowhere near enough money to provide the needed services. At our school the PTA main job is to raise money for special ed, roughly 65k out of the 100k yearly budget so it is literally funded through charity. The interventionist is split between the school because in some years she might not be covered.

Another uncomfortable truth, the services your kid gets are the services another SN kid won’t, because money doesn’t appear based on what’s in the IEP, it’s just that the pie is cut in different slices.

I’m not commenting if it’s fair or not, it’s just the way things are.

I'm surprised that you have never looked at the budget.

Mine has over 10% of funding go to central administration. 1% to special ed

I was the treasurer of the PTA and know what the budget was. $65k out of $100k was spent on reading and math intervention and a on site counselor for support. The rest was to fund field trips for everyone, 10k, about 10k was for classroom supplies, library etc, and the rest was to run events and the organization.

I seriously doubt that your PTA had 10% go to central office and 1% to special ed, that just seem like some made up numbers. No PTA sends money to the central office, maybe you are referring to the membership fee split with the national PTA parent organization, about $12/member.