Special Education Schools

San Jose Schools know that special education is just as important as a regular classroom setting. This is why they have created a very diverse special education program in all of their schools. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ensures that your child can receive a free public school education tailored for their individual needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE) available.

What Special Education Programs are Available in San Jose Schools?

There are many special education programs available in area Schools because of the very broad nature of the term “special education.” An Individualized Education Program (IEP) can help you and your child pick what is best for him.

Regular Classroom: In some cases, all your child may need to have the least restrictive environment in San Jose Schools is a regular classroom with modified exercises done in consultation with a member of the special education staff.

Designated Instructional Services: The DIS program in the south bay schools offers to students different services in order to help them succeed in any setting. This may include speech therapy, occupational therapy and many others.

Special Day Class: San Jose Schools provides a special day class for those students needing more than 50% of their classroom time in a special education classroom. There are four types of special day classes available at schools here. The autism focused classroom setting helps younger students with autism meet their educational and physical goals, especially speech and behavioral needs. There is also a special day class for emotionally disturbed students in San Jose Schools. These students receive an education based on the traditional core curriculum but specially tailored to fit their individual needs. Lower functioning students also receive a quality education in Schools in San Jose because there is a classroom designed for their needs. It addresses independent living skills and also domestic and vocational skills as well.

Workability: The workability program in San Jose Schools provides high-risk special education students with help in obtaining a job. The student must be dependable and want to work as well as having full teacher and parental support. High-risk students show the most signs of dropping out of school because of their special educational needs. The workability program works with the student’s teacher in order to find a job that compliments what the teacher has been teaching and the student’s individual needs.

Overall, San Jose Schools have several different options for any student needing special education services. In a world where education gets your everywhere, this is especially important because it all those students with learning disabilities to get a quality education as well. Just because your child may have a learning disability doesn’t necessarily mean that he can’t function on the same level as someone who doesn’t. San Jose Schools make sure that your child reaches his maximum potential.

Are you the parent of a child currently receiving special education services? Are you extremely concerned about the troubles schools seem to be having with money lately? Have you been told by special education personnel that your child’s services are going to be cut due to lack of money, or that you will have to pay for some services? This article will be discussing school districts lack of money and threats being made to cut special education services; whether it is legal and possible motivations for doing this!

Special education services are considered an entitlement under Federal law (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004–IDEA 2004). In order to be eligible for special education services a child must have a disability (such as autism, a specific learning disability) and have educational need. School districts are required to provide children a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) which includes all services needed for the child to benefit from their education. While parents must fight for these services, the child is entitled to them.

Since a child is entitled to all the services they need; it is truly illegal for a school district to state that they will not provide services, due to lack of money. The Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Program (OSEP) has taken the position over the years that lack of money is not an excuse, for not providing needed services. The problem becomes that parents must prove that their child needs the services, and then fight for the school district to actually provide them!

Lately I have heard from several parents that have received threats from school personnel that their child’s self contained program was going to close, and/or that they were going to ask parents to pay for Extended School Year services during the summertime. The child with a disability is entitled to FAPE which includes the word Free, so charging for services is not legal; under any circumstances! Also schools must provide a continuum of placement services which starts from the regular classroom, and then goes to special classes, special schools etc. If the school district is threatening to close a child’s self contained class how will they educate the child if they close the class. Shutting programs that children need is also not legal!

Below are a few of my thoughts on why some school personnel may be making these threats to parents:

1. School personnel may be trying to force a tax increase or fight for more state and Federal money! I have actually seen rallies on television where parents are fighting for new taxes for education, and/or trying to get the State or Federal Government to fund schools more. Schools already receive a large amount of Federal and State tax money. more than any other sector. Perhaps the problem is how they are spending their money, and what their priorities are!

2. One reason school personnel may be threatening parents is because many parents do not know that schools cannot legally cut special education services or programs that their child needs! This is the reason that it is critical that parents know Federal and State law, so that they can stand up to school personnel!

3. School personnel may be trying to get parents to back down from asking for expensive services. I talk about this a lot in my book Disability Deception-about how schools do not want to provide services to children that may be costly-even though the child needs it. It is important for parents to advocate for their child because their child’s life will be ruined if they do not receive an appropriate education.

Many of the threats being made to parents of children in special education are actually illegal under Federal law! Children are depending on us as their parents, to stand up to lies and deceptions in special education, for the good of their education!