Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Please take an Economics 101 course.

It is NOT that there are no Spec Ed teachers, OTs, etc, it is that they can be paid more to do less elsewhere. Increase the pay and they will come back.

No. The shortage has existed in all these positions for 10+ years all over the country, in every setting. It is not just an MCPS thing. Graduate programs are not producing enough graduates to meet the growing need, and people already in the field are burning out and quitting. And if you think the compensatory services issue is some unique MCPS incompetence, you are very myopic. Many other districts in other states are having the same problems.

MCPS agrees to compensatory services yet they do not arrange for a provider. Yet parents can hire private providers within a reasonable time period. The solution would be for MCPS to reimburse parents for the private services if staffing is the problem.

People exist. They have chosen private practice over working for a public school system.

If the school system can't find someone to provide the services and you can, ask MCPS to pay for those outside services. They can and have done that.

I have. MCPS Lee stalling the commitment and keeps saying they need more time to find a provider. My child has been waiting for six months for Central Office to find a provider.

MCPS has also thrown up a ridiculously low estimate of the reimbursement. The reimbursement rate is about 1/3 of the cost, so I will be paying 2/3 of the cost. Definitely not a free option for our family to solve the MCPS problem of a lack of providers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Please take an Economics 101 course.

It is NOT that there are no Spec Ed teachers, OTs, etc, it is that they can be paid more to do less elsewhere. Increase the pay and they will come back.

No. The shortage has existed in all these positions for 10+ years all over the country, in every setting. It is not just an MCPS thing. Graduate programs are not producing enough graduates to meet the growing need, and people already in the field are burning out and quitting. And if you think the compensatory services issue is some unique MCPS incompetence, you are very myopic. Many other districts in other states are having the same problems.

MCPS agrees to compensatory services yet they do not arrange for a provider. Yet parents can hire private providers within a reasonable time period. The solution would be for MCPS to reimburse parents for the private services if staffing is the problem.

People exist. They have chosen private practice over working for a public school system.

If the school system can't find someone to provide the services and you can, ask MCPS to pay for those outside services. They can and have done that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Please take an Economics 101 course.

It is NOT that there are no Spec Ed teachers, OTs, etc, it is that they can be paid more to do less elsewhere. Increase the pay and they will come back.

No. The shortage has existed in all these positions for 10+ years all over the country, in every setting. It is not just an MCPS thing. Graduate programs are not producing enough graduates to meet the growing need, and people already in the field are burning out and quitting. And if you think the compensatory services issue is some unique MCPS incompetence, you are very myopic. Many other districts in other states are having the same problems.

MCPS agrees to compensatory services yet they do not arrange for a provider. Yet parents can hire private providers within a reasonable time period. The solution would be for MCPS to reimburse parents for the private services if staffing is the problem.

People exist. They have chosen private practice over working for a public school system.

Who can blame them. At their hourly rates they make more than most principals.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Please take an Economics 101 course.

It is NOT that there are no Spec Ed teachers, OTs, etc, it is that they can be paid more to do less elsewhere. Increase the pay and they will come back.

No. The shortage has existed in all these positions for 10+ years all over the country, in every setting. It is not just an MCPS thing. Graduate programs are not producing enough graduates to meet the growing need, and people already in the field are burning out and quitting. And if you think the compensatory services issue is some unique MCPS incompetence, you are very myopic. Many other districts in other states are having the same problems.

MCPS agrees to compensatory services yet they do not arrange for a provider. Yet parents can hire private providers within a reasonable time period. The solution would be for MCPS to reimburse parents for the private services if staffing is the problem.

People exist. They have chosen private practice over working for a public school system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Please take an Economics 101 course.

It is NOT that there are no Spec Ed teachers, OTs, etc, it is that they can be paid more to do less elsewhere. Increase the pay and they will come back.

No. The shortage has existed in all these positions for 10+ years all over the country, in every setting. It is not just an MCPS thing. Graduate programs are not producing enough graduates to meet the growing need, and people already in the field are burning out and quitting. And if you think the compensatory services issue is some unique MCPS incompetence, you are very myopic. Many other districts in other states are having the same problems.

Starting in March 2020, Dr. Smith asked parents if students with disabilities to be patient because MCPS could not provide accommodations and services that students needed in the online platform. MCPS promised to provide compensatory services to make up for the lack of accommodations and services students needed. Two weeks turned into a year without accommodations and services for most students with disabilities. According to data presented to the BOE, 40% of students with disabilities fell behind during online learning.

Dr. McKnight has had a year to begin providing the compensatory services her predecessor promised students. She has had a year to address the achievement gap that grew for students with disabilities during online learning. Yet, MCPS and the unethical Central Office employees who oversee the education of
students with disabilities have barely provided any compensatory services to students even when mandated by state and federal agencies.

The institution is crumbling from the rot in Central Office and the Special Education Resource Teachers placed at the school level. Who suffers? Students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Please take an Economics 101 course.

It is NOT that there are no Spec Ed teachers, OTs, etc, it is that they can be paid more to do less elsewhere. Increase the pay and they will come back.

The attitude that it’s ok to deny students with disabilities the supports and services they need for FAPE because the Federal funds are not enough is a flawed argument.

Does MCPS want to loose the millions of dollars that they receive currently? MCPS has a choice, for what they currently receive, they are required to follow the IDEA. If they want to ignore the federal anti-discrimination laws, all MCPS has to do is give back all sources of federal funding.

Also, what’s the mission of MCPS? Is it to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education for all students? If so the school system has a responsibility to follow the IDEA, Section 504, and the ADA.

MCPS wastes money on pet projects like a Kids Museum but they short change staffing for special education. They have bad employees that are gate keepers in schools that unfairly discriminate and retaliate against students who advocate for services. The culture of special education in MCPS is to force parents to hire lawyers just for students to get the bare minimum. Many families pay thousands of dollars for private services so their children can make progress. The funding priorities of Dr. McKnight shows how little MCPS cares about educating all students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Please take an Economics 101 course.

It is NOT that there are no Spec Ed teachers, OTs, etc, it is that they can be paid more to do less elsewhere. Increase the pay and they will come back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.

But what the shortages are telling us is that there are no special ed teachers, OTs, SLPs, school psychs, etc. to hire. Nobody wants to do the job. IDEA is a ridiculously underfunded mandate that basically demands schools be a bottomless pit of resources without actually giving them the funds or staffing to do so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS pays para educators $17 per hour and special education teachers over $60 per hour. Huge difference in cost and abilities in the position.

I work for MCPS.

I am a special education teacher with a master's degree.

I do not make $60 per hour. Not even close.

But I bet it's a lot more than $17 - a full time (the rare 7 hour) para gets about $22,000 a year. 3 years in with a masters gets you to $60,000 a year.

Night and day.

About 20 years ago, IEPs actually were written with special education support. MCPS began phasing in para educators instead of special education teachers to cut costs. Unfortunately for the students, the skill level and expertise is not the same.