http://www.ibabuzz.com/education/2009/06/23/supreme-court-makes-big-special-education-ruling/ Katy Murphy's blog on Oakland schools Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:06:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.ibabuzz.com/education/2009/06/23/supreme-court-makes-big-special-education-ruling/comment-page-1/#comment-21333 Tildenparent Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:28:46 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/education/?p=5536#comment-21333 The parents and staff at Tilden Elementary have been for quite a while struggling to protect and expand what Justice Souter named in his dissenting opinion, "a satisfactory alternative within the public schools.” We have been defending the right to an inclusive and supportive school environment as integral to the full development of our children along with their right to particular essential services. It is refreshing to know that in effect the Supreme Court has validated the claim that our children deserve Special Education services AND quality inclusive schools. One side of that equation does not work without the other. Some parents have sought that combination outside of the public school system. We have done so within it. Again, it is refreshing to know that if we do not have sincere partnership in crafting a vision of quality inclusive schools in OUSD, we can begin to promote an alternative for our own children and for other children outside of it. We have, in our recent struggle, committed ourselves to collective solutions. While we could have limited our efforts to our own individual children, we are convinced that both we and they benefit from a school community united to support them. This is especially true for the children of parents without the time and resources to secure more costly options. The parents and staff at Tilden Elementary have been for quite a while struggling to protect and expand what Justice Souter named in his dissenting opinion, “a satisfactory alternative within the public schools.” We have been defending the right to an inclusive and supportive school environment as integral to the full development of our children along with their right to particular essential services. It is refreshing to know that in effect the Supreme Court has validated the claim that our children deserve Special Education services AND quality inclusive schools. One side of that equation does not work without the other. Some parents have sought that combination outside of the public school system. We have done so within it. Again, it is refreshing to know that if we do not have sincere partnership in crafting a vision of quality inclusive schools in OUSD, we can begin to promote an alternative for our own children and for other children outside of it. We have, in our recent struggle, committed ourselves to collective solutions. While we could have limited our efforts to our own individual children, we are convinced that both we and they benefit from a school community united to support them. This is especially true for the children of parents without the time and resources to secure more costly options.

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