Some California parents start special education PTA

From the San Jose Mercury-News in California:

Parents of autistic children and those with other special education needs have joined forces to establish a special PTA in North County to share resources and advocate for better services.

Led by a special education aide, the group's creation follows years of frustration between special education administrators and parents over how student needs are delivered.

Because the federal government under-funds mandated special education costs, some parents of the county's nearly 5,000 special education students have grumbled for years that districts weigh cost first when determining whether to approve a personal aide, private school setting or other accommodation. Special education providers have long denied the charge.

But frustration over money came to a boiling point in November when Scotts Valley schools funded teacher bonuses with reserves that had been budgeted to cover cost overruns in special education.

"Our mission is to disseminate information and support parents in their quest for educating their children, and let them know they're not alone," said Susie Christensen, president and co-founder of the Santa Cruz Special Education Parent Teacher Association, which hosted its first meeting Saturday.

Christensen, who worked with special education students for four years at Scotts Valley High, said parents often swap stories about how administrators from different districts handle requests for special education services. She decided last fall that the time was right to create an organization that will allow parents to compare notes and get advice from one another on a larger scale.

"This is where I think the administrators will get a little nervous -- everyone finding out who said what to whom and when," she said. "We're not trying to step on toes, but we're going to."

Still, Christensen stressed that the organization will strive to be a positive group focused on educating parents about their options, as well as raising funds for teachers struggling for resources. For instance, she said the organization will call for more designated autism classes.

"There are zero autism classes beyond preschool in this county -- that's huge," said
Christensen, a member of the county education department's autism task force.

Dan Cope, who oversees the North County special education district until he retires in June, said, "I'm all for parents that want to get together and find ways of supporting special needs children and schools that service those kids. Parents and teachers working together is a great idea."

Cope, who signed the PTA group's charter, said it wasn't his understanding that the organization would take on a strong advocacy bent against administrators. Cope said the law requires districts to provide what they determine is an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment, meaning autistic children are often placed into mainstream classes with the help of aides. Still, work is under way to expand severe autism classes to more elementary-age students at a special education center adjacent to Live Oak's Green Acres Elementary, he said.

School districts are required to provide special education to children from age 3 to 22.
Rachel Huff, a former candidate for the county education board, said she was "devastated" when her 4½-year-old son was diagnosed with autism two years ago. The boy received in-home therapy from the county until the Live Oak School District said it couldn't provide it when he turned 3.

After some haggling, she said she brokered a deal that shared costs between the district, family and insurance.

"His needs got met because I was a strong advocate for my child and didn't ask one group to pay for the burden," she said. "I am the exception. I fought really hard and gave him what he needed."

She joined the new PTA group because "it's an opportunity to be with other parents and say, 'Hey, I've been in your shoes.'" She said she wants to create better working relations between districts and parents.

Christensen said the PTA isn't going to be a champion for whatever parents think is best for their children, which can sometimes be equipment or programs costing more than $100,000.

"We want free and appropriate education for our children," she said, repeating the law's language governing special education services.

The special education PTA, which will meet on the third Saturday of every month, is open to parents of South County special education students. But because South County cases are governed by Pajaro Valley Unified School District's own special education district, any funds raised by the new PTA will only be used for students in the North County special education district covering Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Live Oak and Soquel Union schools.