Special Education programs in California are eroding at a furious rate, causing an uproar among concerned parents and students who demand better schooling. According to the Daily Sound, the catatonic administration captaining this sinking ship is to blame. Administrators have been spineless about reform, leaving the student body unable to hold itself up. Administrators claimed that parents had lost sight of progress. They are right, because there is no progress in sight.

Free and appropriate education for individuals with special needs is protected by Federal and State law, and is required to be delivered by local school districts. However, the 12% of the student body requiring special education in Santa Barbara have been provided with only subpar services. Although free, the education provided students was still taking a toll. Imbalanced, impermanent administrators have done nothing to steady the spastic disarray felt by students. Enough was enough.

In the fall, parents of students entitled to Special Ed. services gave voice to their discontent, publically protesting the gross mismanagement of the administrators of the system. The eventual resignation of the administrators was thought of as a success, although parents are still without hope for change. The Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) came in to measure the effectiveness of the system in place. According to FCMAT, there were no written policies and procedures developed nor were there coordinated methods of outreach for parents. Additionally, a poor record of morale and an inappropriate method for hiring administrators were found to both exist within the belly of the current system – these were almost carcinogenic in capacity.

Questions can only exist where answers exist. The answers found by the FCMAT show that the system is ludicrously substandard. Now the questions appear to be all about improvement. The anticipated hiring of a new executive director and two more directors may bring on some necessary reform, although parents are still dubious.

Many fear that the past is going to be a projection of the future; that the same dusty administrators using the same dusty methods are going to hire the dusty administrators of the future. The special education program in Santa Barbara is absolutely broke of all value – this needs to change immediately. No one is foolish enough to counterfeit a bankrupt currency. Why do school systems continue to do so?

The turnover rate for special education teachers and directors is extremely high, causing an inconsistent beat in the heart of the school system. Ineffective and under-qualified administrators have been hired but have been totally unproductive. If you have an interest in special education and want to have a profound impact on the lives of students, parents and the community, check out the Special Education programs here. This may be your opportunity to make a difference.