Growing Concern over Special Education Conditions in Oakland

Special education teachers, parents, nurses, psychologists are joining with the community of Oakland to demand fully-staffed, well-funded, high-quality special education programs. A petition created by OEA is calling for smaller class sizes, full staffing, limited caseloads, equal facilities and adequate supplies.

Three years after the Oakland Unified School District was taken over by the state, meager budgets have created a crisis in special education. Class sizes and caseloads are described as "overwhelming." There is a lack of speech therapists, occupational therapists, support staff, nurses and psychologists.

Teachers say appropriate curriculum and materials are difficult to find. They must work overtime to write grants and create lessons. Along with pages of IEP paperwork, special education teachers must assess, instruct and manage students. Those long work days have an impact. Teacher turnover is about two years, making it necessary to rely on Intern teachers to plug staffing holes.

Large class sizes, no aides and no services have meant that teachers and students have been subject to violence. Security and safety is also a concern.