Robeson County public schools are struggling to meet the needs of students with disabilities, according to parents who say their children are not receiving the services outlined in their individualized education programs (IEPs) and are often placed in classes with unqualified instructors. Some parents have faced retaliation from school officials when they've voiced concerns, leading them to consider homeschooling or other alternatives to the public school system.Navigating the Challenges of Special Education in Robeson County
Lack of Qualified Teachers and Adequate Resources
Robeson County public schools serve around 3,000 students in their exceptional children's program, but they have faced a shortage of instructors certified to teach classes for students with disabilities such as autism, visual impairments, and hearing impairments. In 2023, the district had 19 vacancies in its exceptional children's program, according to an analysis by EdNC.Jennifer Davis, a former special education teacher at Lumberton High School, said it was common for special education classes to be taught by uncertified teachers or substitutes due to staffing shortages. She emphasized the importance of having certified teachers who have undergone specialized training, as "working with special needs kids, in order to keep their attention, you have to be very creative."
Failure to Provide Promised Services and Accommodations
Several parents reported that their children were not receiving the services outlined in their IEPs. Michelle Brower, whose daughter is deaf and blind, said the district's Shining Stars Preschool removed crucial instruction for two years when the school's teacher for deaf and blind students retired. Casson Jones said his 9-year-old son Nolan, who has autism and is nonverbal, was taught by a certified exceptional children's teacher only about half the time from kindergarten to third grade at Prospect Elementary School.Selena McMillan, the mother of Eric Cromartie III, who has autism, said her son was placed in a self-contained class during his freshman year at Lumberton High School, where she was told students aren't taught math, reading, or writing. When she requested that her son be moved out of the self-contained class, her requests were ignored.
Unsafe Environments and Lack of Accountability
Some parents reported that their children have endured unsafe environments at school. Casson Jones said his family had pushed for two years for Prospect Elementary School to provide a one-on-one aide for their son Nolan, but their requests were denied. In April, Nolan suffered second-degree and third-degree burns after touching a hot serving bar at an after-school program, an incident Jones said could have been prevented.Jennifer Davis, the former special education teacher, said she often saw students with special needs put in danger, including an incident where a teaching assistant threatened to stab three of her students with scissors. Davis reported the incident to administrators, but she said the assistant "didn't even get in trouble" and was simply told to "stay away from those three kids."
Retaliation and Lack of Responsiveness from School Officials
Several parents reported facing retaliation from school officials when they voiced concerns about their children's education. Selena McMillan said that when she became a "concerned parent," she was "labeled" and "became enemy No. 1." Brower and McMillan both faced difficulties when trying to get their children reevaluated, as required by federal law, with McMillan saying she had to file a complaint with the Department of Public Instruction to get her son reevaluated.Marsha Jo Hill-McKenna, whose 5-year-old son Carson has autism and is nonverbal, said she is considering homeschooling him because "he would learn more at home with no homeschooling opposed to being in a school setting, and there is no telling what it is doing to his emotional and mental well being."
Calls for Improved Training and Accountability
The complaint filed by Legal Aid of North Carolina on behalf of Eric Cromartie III's mother calls for special training for school staff members who work with students with disabilities, focusing on "inclusion, appropriate provision of required supports and services, and supportive communication and relationship-building with parents."Selena McMillan, who once was a "biggest parent advocate for the Public Schools of Robeson County," now says she is "the biggest advocate for people to take your children out of the school system." The ordeal has shaken her faith in the school system, and she worries about the long-term impacts of her son's experience at Lumberton High School.As Robeson County public schools continue to struggle to meet the needs of students with special needs, parents are left to navigate a system that they say is failing their children. The calls for improved training, accountability, and responsiveness from school officials highlight the urgent need for systemic change to ensure that all students, regardless of their abilities, receive the education and support they deserve.
