Letter: Resources lacking for special needs at Yuba City Unified

After reading the Nov. 18 article titled "Judge allows retaliation claim against Yuba City Unified," I applaud Lisa Polonsky-Britt for stepping up to hold YCUSD accountable for its appalling approach to all special education children within its jurisdiction. As a parent of two special needs children who were dependent on its services, I can attest to the fact that YCUSD has taken an abandonment policy when it comes to the needs of these children.

Three years ago, I moved my children to the Yuba City district looking for better services. Resources quickly began to dry up. Access to school psychologists was limited and speech services were no longer able to meet the requirements of their Individualized Education Program. Special education teachers had their hours cut and were forced to double as teacher's aides.

Emphasis was now on test scores and if your child couldn't keep up, they were left to flounder. Teachers began to disregard IEP modifications and less time was spent supporting them.

It was evident the culture had changed and that any child with an IEP was seen as a drain on the district. In short, they began to wean these children off.

This year, I chose online schooling and my children are getting a better education and rightful access to services that the floundering YCUSD failed to provide. Polonsky-Britt simply stood up to a district that has ignored the needs of children in this community. By doing so, it has failed its moral imperative to educate ALL children, and that alone is a crime in itself.

Roy Greenwood

Olivehurst