In Flint, Schools Overwhelmed by Special Ed. Needs in Aftermath of Lead Crisis
August 28, 2019
By: Corey Mitchell
Source: EdWeek
Years after reports surfaced of alarmingly high lead levels in the water system, the toll of the crisis is becoming clear: At least 1 in 5 students in Flint’s public schools are eligible for special education—and the school system is buckling under the weight of federal requirements and costs for providing programs and services.
The percentage of special education students has increased by 56 percent, rising from 13.1 percent in 2012-13, the school year before the water crisis began, to 20.5 percent last school year.