Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Mayor Adrian Fenty say the District is making progress toward meeting the needs of its special education students.

Jessica Forres reports...



Inside the library at Noyes Elementary School in Northeast, Mayor Fenty and others talk about their efforts to reform the Office of Special Education…

WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING FROM HIRING FULL-TIME CASE MANAGERS, TO HIRING MORE FULL_TIME STAFF< TO OVERSIGHT.

Two lawsuits resulted in court actions that require the District to address special education issues…

THESE CONSENT DECREES AND COURT INVOLVEMENT DON'T CONVINCE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK OR FREELY MAKE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AND THE QUICKER WE CAN GET OUT THEM THE MORE QUICKLY WE CAN IMPROVE PERFORMANCE.

Standing next to Fenty is Chancellor Michelle Rhee who is confident her leadership will produce high-quality special education programs located within DC's public schools…

EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING IS EXATRAORDINARILY AGGRESSIVE FROM TACKLING THE BACKLOG NUMBERS. ENSURING THAT WE ARE HOLDING PRINCIPALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR TIMLINESS OF IEPS ETC. TO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE GOOD PROGRAMS IN PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS.

The district now spends more than 82 million dollars every year to send public school special-ed students to private schools.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News