Special Ed Disaster

[Anonymous]

I am very concerned about this as an elementary arts teacher. We are already very impacted, since elementary special education students come to art, music, PE, and media without their teacher and frequently wander, elope, or engage in aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behavior with other students. I only see these kids once a week and only have this 45 minutes with them to teach, and I’m now losing time and frankly putting other kids at risk sometimes. Giving special education students even less support would be worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am very concerned about this as an elementary arts teacher. We are already very impacted, since elementary special education students come to art, music, PE, and media without their teacher and frequently wander, elope, or engage in aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behavior with other students. I only see these kids once a week and only have this 45 minutes with them to teach, and I’m now losing time and frankly putting other kids at risk sometimes. Giving special education students even less support would be worse.

Agreed. Also, how big are your classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is the person in special ed who has proposed all of these changes to the ESY schedule? As someone who has worked ESY for the last 10+ years, I’m very concerned about the impacts of these changes.

Don't underestimate how much Taylor diddles in areas in which he shouldn't. The habit of tearing things up to reorganize in ways yet unknown is harming our school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The title of this thread should be "Special Ed Disaster impacts General Ed"

This is a great way to impact student academic outcomes negatively. WTH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The public education system as a whole is collapsing on itself. There are too many kids with needs and even more that have needs but do not rise to the threshold of an IEP or 504.

Teachers are overworked and underpaid. Classes are too large to provide meaningful instruction and feedback. Property taxes are rising but the people paying the increases are not seeing meaningful changes.

We (the public) can only surmise what is going on behind the scenes. We really have no idea what the conversations are, what negotiations are happening. We see the outcomes but we have no idea if the outcome was best of the bad options.

Decisions about education are made based on hunger, shelter, and family dynamics. What is best educationally may not be feasible due to an issue outside of the school districts control. I think we all agree that HS school students should have a later start but the push back when this was considered was that many families need to the older kids home to watch the younger kids. That's family dynamics driving education policy.

I don't have a solution but I do believe everyone is doing the best that they can within the constraints they have to work with.

TT is using kids with disabilities as a bargaining chip with the County Council. That is not "the best of bad options" that is an irresponsible and disgusting choice.

I have no idea what TT is doing---perhaps, maybe, he's using the only chip he has to get what he needs. And before you come at me, yes my kid has an IEP. I'm not thrilled about the rumored changes either.

Please, it is so obvious. He is choosing the item he is willing to cut that will cause the most outcry. He is not identifying what he can cut that will have the least impact (like the regional programs nobody cares about). Assuming the Council doesn't fully fund his request, which is likely, do you think he will back down? That would completely undermine his credibility the next time he wants to do something and needs to threaten people do it. Which will certainly happen soon. It is happening concurrently with the calendar issue. He isn't backing down.

The council is in no mood for Taylor hardball. They will say FU back at him. He gins up lots of problems of his own making and the council has had to spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with community push-back due to Taylor-made crises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The public education system as a whole is collapsing on itself. There are too many kids with needs and even more that have needs but do not rise to the threshold of an IEP or 504.

Teachers are overworked and underpaid. Classes are too large to provide meaningful instruction and feedback. Property taxes are rising but the people paying the increases are not seeing meaningful changes.

We (the public) can only surmise what is going on behind the scenes. We really have no idea what the conversations are, what negotiations are happening. We see the outcomes but we have no idea if the outcome was best of the bad options.

Decisions about education are made based on hunger, shelter, and family dynamics. What is best educationally may not be feasible due to an issue outside of the school districts control. I think we all agree that HS school students should have a later start but the push back when this was considered was that many families need to the older kids home to watch the younger kids. That's family dynamics driving education policy.

I don't have a solution but I do believe everyone is doing the best that they can within the constraints they have to work with.

TT is using kids with disabilities as a bargaining chip with the County Council. That is not "the best of bad options" that is an irresponsible and disgusting choice.

I have no idea what TT is doing---perhaps, maybe, he's using the only chip he has to get what he needs. And before you come at me, yes my kid has an IEP. I'm not thrilled about the rumored changes either.

Please, it is so obvious. He is choosing the item he is willing to cut that will cause the most outcry. He is not identifying what he can cut that will have the least impact (like the regional programs nobody cares about). Assuming the Council doesn't fully fund his request, which is likely, do you think he will back down? That would completely undermine his credibility the next time he wants to do something and needs to threaten people do it. Which will certainly happen soon. It is happening concurrently with the calendar issue. He isn't backing down.

The council is in no mood for Taylor hardball. They will say FU back at him. He gins up lots of problems of his own making and the council has had to spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with community push-back due to Taylor-made crises.

He is awful. All the parents at our school have had it with him. TT is all about TT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is the person in special ed who has proposed all of these changes to the ESY schedule? As someone who has worked ESY for the last 10+ years, I’m very concerned about the impacts of these changes.

Don't underestimate how much Taylor diddles in areas in which he shouldn't. The habit of tearing things up to reorganize in ways yet unknown is harming our school system.

In many ways, TT reminds me of our president: same style, driving you nuts by breaking down everything and thinking he is omnipotent on everything... Thank God TT doesn't play on Stock market or trying to build his own ball room, but look at our new proposed property tax rate...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone remember this is MCPS's choice. My guess is this is an effort to get people to lobby the Council for more funding. The Council hasn't made any budget decisions yet so they haven't cut anything yet

I was about to post the same sentiment. Don’t fall for it! Plenty of other ways MCPS can trim their budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is the person in special ed who has proposed all of these changes to the ESY schedule? As someone who has worked ESY for the last 10+ years, I’m very concerned about the impacts of these changes.

Don't underestimate how much Taylor diddles in areas in which he shouldn't. The habit of tearing things up to reorganize in ways yet unknown is harming our school system.

In many ways, TT reminds me of our president: same style, driving you nuts by breaking down everything and thinking he is omnipotent on everything... Thank God TT doesn't play on Stock market or trying to build his own ball room, but look at our new proposed property tax rate...

I agree. TT is a sign of the times - he is DOGE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It means they are cutting back on Sped and don't care who it hurts. They said they were going to do this a few years ago as part of the cuts when they took out the virtual school, trade programs and early education. Not surprising at all. They need to pay for their silly regional model somehow.

Started over a decade ago. Our ASD child was punished and ignored. It took over a full year to get an IEP in place. OTOH, those with language deficiencies and struggles...received appropriate help early and often. It is a zero-sum game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The title of this thread should be "Special Ed Disaster impacts General Ed"

This is a great way to impact student academic outcomes negatively. WTH.

They are not worried about your students or their outcomes. They know, as parents, you will do extra and pay for services for your child. Your tax dollars are being spent elsewhere on school and wrap around services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am very concerned about this as an elementary arts teacher. We are already very impacted, since elementary special education students come to art, music, PE, and media without their teacher and frequently wander, elope, or engage in aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behavior with other students. I only see these kids once a week and only have this 45 minutes with them to teach, and I’m now losing time and frankly putting other kids at risk sometimes. Giving special education students even less support would be worse.

RTSE's don't accompany students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The public education system as a whole is collapsing on itself. There are too many kids with needs and even more that have needs but do not rise to the threshold of an IEP or 504.

Teachers are overworked and underpaid. Classes are too large to provide meaningful instruction and feedback. Property taxes are rising but the people paying the increases are not seeing meaningful changes.

We (the public) can only surmise what is going on behind the scenes. We really have no idea what the conversations are, what negotiations are happening. We see the outcomes but we have no idea if the outcome was best of the bad options.

Decisions about education are made based on hunger, shelter, and family dynamics. What is best educationally may not be feasible due to an issue outside of the school districts control. I think we all agree that HS school students should have a later start but the push back when this was considered was that many families need to the older kids home to watch the younger kids. That's family dynamics driving education policy.

I don't have a solution but I do believe everyone is doing the best that they can within the constraints they have to work with.

TT is using kids with disabilities as a bargaining chip with the County Council. That is not "the best of bad options" that is an irresponsible and disgusting choice.

I have no idea what TT is doing---perhaps, maybe, he's using the only chip he has to get what he needs. And before you come at me, yes my kid has an IEP. I'm not thrilled about the rumored changes either.

Please, it is so obvious. He is choosing the item he is willing to cut that will cause the most outcry. He is not identifying what he can cut that will have the least impact (like the regional programs nobody cares about). Assuming the Council doesn't fully fund his request, which is likely, do you think he will back down? That would completely undermine his credibility the next time he wants to do something and needs to threaten people do it. Which will certainly happen soon. It is happening concurrently with the calendar issue. He isn't backing down.

The council is in no mood for Taylor hardball. They will say FU back at him. He gins up lots of problems of his own making and the council has had to spend an inordinate amount of time dealing with community push-back due to Taylor-made crises.

The council, like the BOE, has no spine and will not in fact say FU to Taylor. He gets away with murder in their work sessions and briefings all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am very concerned about this as an elementary arts teacher. We are already very impacted, since elementary special education students come to art, music, PE, and media without their teacher and frequently wander, elope, or engage in aggressive or otherwise inappropriate behavior with other students. I only see these kids once a week and only have this 45 minutes with them to teach, and I’m now losing time and frankly putting other kids at risk sometimes. Giving special education students even less support would be worse.

RTSE's don't accompany students.

RTSEs were supposed to do paperwork to free up special education teachers to work more directly with students to develop the skills they need to succeed in school. Instead we now will have fewer special ed teachers, and they will have less time to identify and work with students, and the effects will be seen across the school.

[Anonymous]

To cut special ed staffing, replace it with RTSEs and then cut RTSEs takes a special kind of sadism