One year ago, the Special Education PTSA wrote to you and to the District about the fact that students with disabilities were not assigned to the proper tiers and were not being served in the summer of learning program. The Special Education Department reassigned a few students whose parents were savvy enough to make a fuss, but did not address the systemic issue which meant that many students with IEPs were not able to participate.
One year later and here we are again. Since last summer, OSPI has published guidance telling School Districts that they would have to provide recovery services to students with disabilities. More detailed guidance was published in the beginning of May. OSPI has specifically ordered that some groups of students in Seattle are entitled to summer recovery services in unprecedented class action decisions.
What was the reality yesterday on the first day? Families who had received no communication from the District or conflicting communication about dates, times, location. School locations without the teachers and IAs needed to ensure student safety, let alone learning. Kids who were left to fend for themselves. Buses that didn’t show up or were late. Central office staff, including the Director of Special Education, teaching classes.
Our PTSA held its last general meeting of the year on June 15. Dr. Pedroza and Director Mitchell attended, collected questions about the summer programs and promised to put out an FAQ so families would know what to expect. We sent them the questions the next day. No FAQ was published.
We understand that there are staffing challenges — but we also understand that there were no discussions with SEA about planning for summer school. We appreciate that central office staff are stepping in, but after more than a year of hearing that students with disabilities are being prioritized, we are shaking our heads in disbelief because of the reality that families and students are facing once again. We are especially dismayed about the continued poor communication resulting in our students not receiving instruction and services.
