One tenth of one percent

 One Tenth of one Percent

Baltimore County public schools serve 16,000 children with special needs.  As a result of many concerns expressed by families regarding the quality of those services, the U.S. Department of Education’s Inspector General issued a report that based on their investigation, all is well in Baltimore County.

How did they come to that conclusion?  Of the 16,000 children being served, the Inspector General examined 25 IEP’s. Yes, that is correct, .001 percent.   These were IEPs during the 24-25 school year.  Baltimore County was very pleased with the findings.  Advocates and parent groups not so much. During this same period of time, 53 formal complaints regarding failure to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) were filed by Baltimore County parents with the State Department of Education.  Because of the randomness of the 25 IEP’s selected the report acknowledged that its findings were not representational of the services provided to kids with disabilities in Baltimore County.   Researchers in education say that in order for the findings to be representational of what the system is doing, at least 15% of the children receiving service would need to be included.  

Attorneys who have represented families and children with disabilities were incredulous with the findings.  One attorney said that, at the present time, she herself is representing 50 families whose children are not receiving the services they are required to receive. 

The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a nationwide advocacy group for children with disabilities, said last month that the US Department of Education special education oversight has lowered its standards over the last two years.  Onsite special education monitoring has been reduced from 10 states per year to only 1 or 2 in 2025 and 2026.  The organization has said the Department of Ed is no longer doing it core duty to ensure compliance with IDEA.

Parental complaints are filed with the State Department of Education if the local school district is not doing its job.  What if the State Department of Ed doesn’t do its job?  That leaves the foxes in charge of the hen house .