MCPS is executing significant changes to special education that directly affect autistic students and their families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And meanwhile the Board is going to have to spend way more on outside counsel fees because with all these reductions in programming more and more families are going to be filing due process complaints.

Seems insane. Also seems there are other really low hanging things that can be cut first but that aren't touched because that's just the way things have always been. Why does every secondary school need an attendance secretary, for example? What does that staff person do that couldn't be performed by software? That's 65 jobs right there. Shift that funding to autism and boom. Done.

The attendance secretary actually does a lot including signing the kids in and out, notes, emails. Ours works nonstop in high school.

The issue is the mismanagement. Taylor last year said they were increasing sped funding and now they are reducing it. Blame him and the BOE. It was easy to see this coming as they have gone after the most vulnerable students for many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak, the Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s longtime supervisor, Kristin Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/01/breaking-taylor-proposes-major-cuts-to.html?m=1

She’s allowed to retire after 43 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think in Montgomery County the Autism program was a racket like the Minneapolis fraud.

I think they were labeling kids that weren't autistic as autistic so they could get federal funds. Now they are afraid of getting busted.

Oh yeah, because it is famously known that parents want their kids to be labeled autistic and it is so easy to get an IEP!

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak, the Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s longtime supervisor, Kristin Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/01/breaking-taylor-proposes-major-cuts-to.html?m=1

She’s allowed to retire after 43 years.

It wasn’t her choice. She was forced out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a child who is getting injured at school due to a lack of appropriate supports. How do I go about making MCPS pay for his medical care? I suppose it isn't enough to get them to pay for the co-pays, because my health insurance would make me pay for the whole visit if a third party is deemed responsible.

I would not be sending my child to that school.

You're assuming there's an alternative. Even if we had money for private, which we don't, there's no open spots anywhere.

[Anonymous]

This could not be a more shirt-sighted decision by the Taylor administration. The schools serving special needs children need way more support, not less! Cannot imagine what that CO brain trust is thinking! 🤬

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This could not be a more shirt-sighted decision by the Taylor administration. The schools serving special needs children need way more support, not less! Cannot imagine what that CO brain trust is thinking! 🤬

*short-sighted

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak, the Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s longtime supervisor, Kristin Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/01/breaking-taylor-proposes-major-cuts-to.html?m=1

She’s allowed to retire after 43 years.

It wasn’t her choice. She was forced out.

Insider note or rumor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak, the Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s longtime supervisor, Kristin Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/01/breaking-taylor-proposes-major-cuts-to.html?m=1

She’s allowed to retire after 43 years.

It wasn’t her choice. She was forced out.

Regardless, I don't think someone who's been in a position for 43 years is entitled to stay there forever. We need fresh blood in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like they are going to dump even more children into mainstream elementary classrooms who have no business being in one. It helps nobody except the bottom line.

^^THIS^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak, the Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s longtime supervisor, Kristin Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/01/breaking-taylor-proposes-major-cuts-to.html?m=1

She’s allowed to retire after 43 years.

It wasn’t her choice. She was forced out.

Regardless, I don't think someone who's been in a position for 43 years is entitled to stay there forever. We need fresh blood in MCPS.

She will be replaced with a sycophant. If you are looking for an improvement with a replacement in a department with diminishing resources, you won't find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This could not be a more shirt-sighted decision by the Taylor administration. The schools serving special needs children need way more support, not less! Cannot imagine what that CO brain trust is thinking! 🤬

There are regional high school programs to construct and operate...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most concerning, the Autism Unit has been reduced by roughly half. Two positions were eliminated, and five psychologists with autism-specific assessment expertise were reassigned to general caseloads, dispersing specialized knowledge that has long supported schools and IEP teams. At its peak, the Autism Unit included 21 full-time specialists serving 73 schools. The unit’s longtime supervisor, Kristin Ericson, is also departing after 43 years at MCPS, representing a major loss of expertise and institutional knowledge.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/01/breaking-taylor-proposes-major-cuts-to.html?m=1

She’s allowed to retire after 43 years.

It wasn’t her choice. She was forced out.

After 43 years, it is not unreasonable to want someone new

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This could not be a more shirt-sighted decision by the Taylor administration. The schools serving special needs children need way more support, not less! Cannot imagine what that CO brain trust is thinking! 🤬

There are regional high school programs to construct and operate...

They cut an autism program, MVA and early childhood education a few years ago... it was easy to see this coming, sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think in Montgomery County the Autism program was a racket like the Minneapolis fraud.

I think they were labeling kids that weren't autistic as autistic so they could get federal funds. Now they are afraid of getting busted.

As someone who worked in special ed in MCPS you could not be more wrong.

Yes, my experience is that it's been the opposite...those programs are EXPENSIVE and the gap between federal/state funding and what the district has to cover is a lot. They are more likely to gatekeep, if anythiingl.