COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Parents and teachers are calling Columbus City Schools Specialized Learning Center classes, under the district’s Office of Special Education, unsafe.
“Right now, they’re breaking the law under Ohio state law for special needs classrooms, maximum is six students,” said Omawale Green, who has a son with autism spectrum disorder. “To have 14, you’re out of compliance, and you’re breaking the law. Simple as that.”
Greene’s son, Noel, is a third grade student at Sullivant Elementary in Columbus. He said recently Noel’s support at school has gone downhill, and he said it’s not because of the teachers.
Ohio law does not allow intervention specialists to serve more than six children with autism, deaf-blindness, and/or traumatic brain injury. It also mandates that intervention specialists do not serve more than eight children with multiple disabilities.
“The way the classroom is set up now, I don’t feel safe,” said Greene. “I don’t feel safe there. I don’t feel the staff is safe. I don’t feel teachers are safe. I don’t feel like the aides are safe, because it’s so many special needs. You have to keep those classrooms small.”
At Tuesday night’s CCS Board of Education meeting, multiple parents and teachers spoke to members about the same concerns.
“I know that my two students have been overstimulated and acting out in ways they never have before,” said one CCS mom.
A former intervention specialist reached out to ABC6/FOX28 on Wednesday and said she resigned last month from Sullivant Elementary School. Leah Stamos sent ABC6/FOX28 her resignation letter.
In it, she wrote, “I can no longer support or condone the current practices of the district’s administration, which I believe are not only detrimental to the students under my care but also in violation of legal and ethical standards.”
“If things don’t change by the next semester, I will pull my child from Columbus City Schools because it’s unfair, and there’s ample amount of time to make these adjustments,” said Greene. “It should have never. Where was the failing for this to happen in the first place? As an administration?”
Columbus City School sent a statement to ABC 6 in response to this story. The questions and answers are below.
Parents say some special education teachers’ caseloads have doubled, leading to unsafe conditions for teachers and students. Is CCS following the state’s law regarding the number of students in special education classes? What is being done to look into their concerns?
“CCS, not unlike many other districts across the nation, is experiencing a staffing shortage in the area of special education. Since last spring, the district has implemented a variety of strategies to address this issue including redirecting licensed special education teachers on special assignments into special education classroom positions, redirecting licensed special education teachers to different classrooms, and partnering with a staffing agency, all in an effort to best support our students and our staff. The district is actively redirecting licensed special education staff to special education classrooms to support our students. The district is also filling approximately 50 special education instructional aide positions to support students and teaching staff. CCS has been in consultation with the Ohio Department of Education (ODEW) since last spring, discussing the District’s response and actions related to the teacher shortage; additional and ongoing discussion is occurring with ODEW, including the development of a plan to maintain compliance with caseload regulations. CCS is committed to ensuring that all students impacted by the teacher shortage receive necessary compensatory services.”
Parents say teachers and students in special education classes are getting injured and they’re concerned. What is the district’s response to that?
“Student and staff safety is paramount to maintaining a strong educational environment. CCS utilizes a nationally recognized de-escalation program, Crisis Prevention and Intervention, in which specific special education teachers and special education instructional aides are trained and attend annual refresher training to proactively interact with students that have behavioral challenges. The District is responsible for educating all students with disabilities, including those that demonstrate behavioral difficulty and require specific and individualized behavioral intervention. Many students with behavioral challenges have a Behavior Intervention Plan that is intended to ensure students receive the intervention they need to learn more appropriate coping strategies. The District also employs behavioral specialists that work with teachers to create behavior plans and environments that are safe, for both students and staff.”
After hearing the concerns during yesterday’s meeting, what is being done to address them? What is the Board doing to address the concerns?
“The district is actively redirecting licensed special education staff to special education classrooms to support our students. The district is also filling approximately 50 special education instructional aide positions to support students and teaching staff. We are continuing to offer Crisis Prevention and Intervention training monthly and utilizing our behavior specialists to create classroom management plans and individual behavior plans that focus on safety and skill building in necessary areas. The District is working collaboratively with the Ohio Department of Education to ensure all students receive a free, appropriate education and necessary compensatory services.”
The District is also focused on pipeline work to address the teacher shortage. Several CCS employees in non-teaching positions and substitute roles earned teaching credentials and accepted classroom special education positions for the 24-25 school year. The district is utilizing a Grow Your Own program and working toward implementing a Teacher Apprenticeship program with special education licensure. Collaboration with the teachers union created a program to incentivize current teaching staff to move into areas of high need, such as special education, as well as a program to incentivize building substitutes to earn licensure in areas of high need.
Stamos said complaints have been filed with the Ohio Department of Education. ABC/FOX28 submitted a request for those complaints.