Plain and simple: Special education is about money

But it is not politically correct to say that disabled children should not receive the services because of money. So under the guise of “inclusion” there is now another push to remove students with disabilities from highly specialized schools to regular classrooms.

If children with disabilities could be educated in regular classrooms, they would be there. The reason that they are not in regular classrooms is because they cannot function appropriately in a classroom with a regular teacher and 25 typical children. In a regular classroom, children with disabilities would not receive the individualized and intensive instruction offered in a specialized program. They also would not receive the therapeutic services that they need.

Let’s stop sugar-coating this “sales pitch.” This is all about removing children with disabilities from programs which have been highly successful and beneficial; programs that parents believe are highly effective.

Once special education children are in regular classrooms, who is going to monitor if they are getting what they need?

The public schools have a checkered record educating typical students and children with limited English proficiency. Do you really think that they are going to do a better job with children who have disabilities?

Ellenmorris Tiegerman is the founder and executive director of the School for Language and Communication Development in Woodside and Glen Cove, LI.