Dist. 1 questioned on special ed. staff qualifications

Concerns by one Yuma parent led the Arizona Department of Education to audit Yuma Elementary School District 1 to determine if its special education staff has met the Highly Qualified standard required by federal law.

A three-member team from ADE's highly qualified professionals unit conducted an on-site review of District 1 on Oct. 26 in response to a written complaint submitted by a parent, Joseph Michaud.

Michaud's son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is enrolled in a special education program at Castle Dome Middle School. Michaud said his son has had chronic problems with writing.

"His grades are wonderful. But he has difficulty with his English class. His grammar is real poor and he has difficulty in any class that requires a lot of writing."

Michaud also said his son was previously on an Individual Education Plan. Children diagnosed with learning disabilities are required by the federal government to have an IEP, which outlines a child's educational goals for the school year. It is developed by the family, school and medical professionals. IEP programs are re-evaluated annually to assure goals are being met.

But Michaud's son was switched from an IEP to a Section 504 plan. Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and ensures children have equal access to education. But unlike IEP, Section 504 does not require a school district to design a plan to meet the unique needs of an individual. Now, special education teachers only meet with his family once a year and his son now has less procedural safeguards, Michaud said.

"I'm not trying to make trouble for anyone. It just seems there are too many things that the district is doing that do not follow their strategic plan. The strategic plan is made by the school board and the administration needs to follow it."

Michaud said he would like his son to be placed back on IEP because he needs to improve his writing.

"He'll not use punctuation. He's going into high school next year and it will tear him apart unless he's brought up to grade level."

ADE's Patricia Hardy released a summary about District 1 in a written report. She noted that 29 percent of special education teachers have not met the Highly Qualified standard in the subject area they are assigned to teach as mandated under the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. And there are four positions currently filled by long term substitutes.  

Darwin Stiffler, District 1 superintendent, said it is only 16 teachers out of nearly 60 special education instructors who must meet additional requirements. He said ADE's report recognized that the teachers are certified in special education. But ADE is adding new obligations that were not compulsory until now in order to meet the Highly Qualified standard.

The 16 teachers must pass the Arizona Education Proficiency Assessment, which evaluates general education knowledge, Stiffler said. He said District 1 will comply with helping teachers prepare for the AEPA by providing professional development and reimbursing teachers for the exam expense.

"It is a misconception to think there are unqualified teachers teaching special education in District 1," Stiffler said.

He said that only Title I schools have been compelled to implement the additional requirement. Title I schools are those with a student population of 50 percent or more low-income families whose children are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

"The current teachers must jump through a lot of hoops. These burdens in place were never there when I was in the classroom."

And he said, a lot of these teachers come to the district from other states where they would not need further requirements in their home states. But nonetheless District 1 will comply with the AEPA exam, he said.

He also acknowledged there are four substitutes holding a place in special education. But there are four Northern Arizona University student teachers preparing to meet the Highly Qualified standard in December and will replace the substitutes by January.

ADE scheduled a follow-up review in February.

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.