News, Etc.

Special education students already get the shaft as it is, but districts are looking for ways to save money while still "complying" with federal law.

There really is no evidence "inclusion" is more beneficial to sped students, at least in terms of learning. The whole point of "inclusion" in the first place was to save money on rooms and even teachers. Socializing with the general student population is certainly to be encouraged, but let's not kid ourselves the students will improve academically when they really need intensive instruction without outside distractions.

What I have seen being a substitute "aide" (trying to survive the winter if I can) I can only describe as appalling because the life skills special education teachers don't actually teach the students by and large up here in Oregon, unlike Nevada. Instead, the teachers plan the lessons and write the IEPs, but they serve basically as supervisors to the aides, who do most of the work, even work that is really legally questionable. Aides should NOT be allowed to teach whole class lessons, not even do "read alouds"; it is illegal unless the aides are special education certified. Having an AA degree is not equal to being certified to teach. Even though I am a certified special education teacher, I am not Oregon certified, so I am not legally allowed to teach students. I would not unless or until I am certified.