Have you had a positive experience with public school special education?

Question

I know that most people ask questions because they have a problem and are looking for help. And I know that when you are having a problem, and you are under a lot of stress, it's sometimes hard to have a sense of perspective. One frequent responder in the Special Education often says something to the effect that special education is corrupt throughout the entire United States. While I have had some experiences with incompetent special education professionals, the majority that I have observed have been dedicated, skilled, and very good at teaching students with a wide range of special needs. I would love to hear from people who have had a positive experience. Please share some information about how public school special education has been a good experience for someone you know. Please also say where you live. (BTW, I live in the San Francisco Bay area, and I believe that we do have many fine special education programs here.)

Answer 1

I have had great experiences with Special Education in Massachusetts, California, and Texas. They always put the best interests of the child first and always value my input and answer my questions. I have talked to some private schools for my son, who has autism, and they seemed to be clueless and knew less than I did.  

Answer 2

I live in south GA and my son goes to a public alternative school half a day and a "regular" public school the other half. I have had a good experience so far and he just started middle school this year.

Answer 3

In some areas, it is corrupt.  For example, in Great Neck (which is in Long Island) is VERY corrupt.  They have two alternative schools in the Great Neck School District.  It is commonly to dump low-achieving students there.  They do not have the appropriate special education programs at the alternative schools.

Answer 4

I work as a para-educator in Special Ed in Montana. Yes, I am biased as I work in the program but honestly, I work with some great people who really care about the kids we serve.  I know a lot of parents who are very happy with the assistance their children have received. I have watched kids graduating high school who have gone through the program and are now headed off to college.  The system is not perfect - many kids fall through the cracks and it frustrates us when we are not allowed to help kids with obvious needs because they do not qualify according to the tests and federal guidelines.  When the kid I've been working with for two years sits down and reads a passage to me, fluently, and understands what he read, I get excited. Our victories are often little steps by the standards used to evaluate most students but to us they are huge.  Good things are happening here.

Answer 5

no they were all negative in different states.