Should your zip code dictate your support? So many families in Nashville worry every single day about whether their children will get the special education they desperately need. While some students receive support, others never do. The difference has the ability to change a child’s life.
Metro Nashville Public Schools serves about 12,000 students with disabilities, which is about 15 percent of all MNPS students. For these students, special education resources are vital for learning, communication and inclusivity. What’s the issue? Support depends on which school they attend in the district. A student in a well-resourced school may have access to a whole team of specialists and a plethora of resources, whereas a lower income student may not. It’s the same city but different support levels. In a society that is so passionate about increasing inclusion, this is a disappointment.
Understandably, both teachers and families have been upset by the gaps. A recent Tennessee report found that only 32 percent of special education teachers had the resources available to assess and aid students’ behavioral needs. Children in families that are unable to pay for therapy and tutoring are forced to fall further and further behind…