A litany of troubles in special education
by Bill Hangley Jr. on Oct 16 2012
It was an evening of troubling data, frustrated parents, and hopeful promises from District officials who know they have a long way to go.
This month’s District strategy meeting focused on the challenges posed by special education, and judging from the evening’s proceedings, they are significant. The session included a look at a selection of data showing that Philadelphia ranks among the worst urban districts in the nation in terms of the academic performance of students with learning disabilities –Philadelphia’s scores fell below Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, and Detroit on national assessments. Special education students are suspended at significantly higher rates than their classmates, and graduate at significantly lower rates.
“Those numbers are disheartening …. We have to get better at it, and this is the