Special education in region highly segregated
Schools exceed state average in number of students not in mainstream classes, agency reports.
By Raven L. Hill, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, February 05, 2005

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Five Central Texas school districts have higher-than-average numbers of students who get special education and are not in mainstream classroom settings, according to a Texas Education Agency report released Friday.

Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Georgetown and Del Valle were among the 94 districts across the state whose ratios of segregated special education students were 25 percent higher than the statewide average for two consecutive years.

Although landing on the list does not automatically mean a district is in violation of federal laws requiring students with special needs to be in the "least restrictive environment," it could signal a need to revamp existing policies and procedures, said agency spokeswoman Suzanne Marchman.

"In some cases the school district and campuses have high percentages of special education, self-contained students and have legitimate reasons for high percentages," Marchman said. "This is a report that makes the public aware of the percentages of self-contained students to make sure (the district isn't) inappropriately assigning students."

Concerned parents and residents should contact the districts to get more insight into placement issues, she added.

For an urban district, the issue is complicated, said Joan Altobelli, special education director for Austin schools.

She noted, for example, that the district is responsible for students at Austin State Hospital who cannot be placed in less-restrictive settings. The district also has many students who live in group homes because of emotional and behavioral problems, a situation that can skew the numbers higher.

"Hospitals and residential centers don't get set up in smaller districts," she said. "We're certainly working towards getting off the list and making positive changes. Some of the issues are out of our control."

Earlier this week, 70 Austin elementary school teachers and their principals participated in a training session about mainstreaming students who get special education, she said.

"We're teaching general and special education teachers to work together . . . so that more children can stay in the general education environment," Altobelli said.

Placement for students with special needs is determined by parents, teachers, counselors and principals. Ideally, however, the student could spend at least part of the day with students in general education classes, even if it is in art, music or physical education, Marchman said.

Severe mental or physical disabilities can restrict mainstreaming, but not always, she said.

"Oftentimes accommodations can be made so students can join some classes to participate instead of being isolated with other special ed students," she said.

Leander school officials said they implemented changes this year to mainstream more students and expect to see the district's numbers improve.

"We wanted to be certain that we didn't shortchange any of our special-needs students just to get off of the list," spokesman Bill Britcher said. "We were looking more in terms of a long-term solution that provides the best education for every student."

School districts on the list