At least three school districts in Vermont—Barre Unified Union School District, South Burlington School District, and Lamoille North Supervisory Union—are notifying parents that their children may not receive the special education services mandated in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) due to staffing shortages.
Anastasia Douglas, a parent from Barre, received a letter from the district just before the school year began, indicating her son would not receive the paraeducator support specified in his IEP. “The communication wasn’t in good faith because it was sent immediately before the school year started,” she expressed, highlighting the impact this decision could have on her child’s education.
Under federal law, public schools are required to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities, and IEPs are legally binding documents outlining the services these students are entitled to based on their specific needs. Unfortunately, the ongoing staffing crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has hindered many Vermont districts’ ability to deliver adequate special education services. In extreme cases, this has resulted in some students receiving no education at all.
Douglas noted that the lack of appropriate support can have severe consequences, stating, “Without more individualized assistance, classroom teachers are forced to take on roles typically delegated to others, detracting from all students’ instruction.” The letter from Dr. Melody Frank, the district’s Director of Special Services, acknowledged the staffing shortages but reiterated the district’s legal obligation to fulfill IEP requirements.
Dr. Frank indicated that the district would monitor instances when a student’s IEP was not staffed and would hold an IEP meeting when appropriate staffing became available to discuss potential compensatory services for educational progress.
Barre Superintendent JoAn Canning admitted the timing of the letter was “not ideal” but emphasized the importance of transparency. The letter initially reached about 30 families, but the impact of staffing issues was already affecting a smaller number of students.
Parent Jasmine Wible, who has four children with autism, expressed her frustration over the last-minute communication and decided to homeschool her children instead. “I do not want them to lose out on an education because they’re all brilliant,” she said, stressing that staffing shortages should not excuse the failure to provide legally mandated services.
Canning noted the district is seeking creative solutions to the staffing issue and is open to partnering with parents. Meanwhile, Wible has taken control of her children’s education, emphasizing the high level of support required for children with disabilities.
In a similar vein, South Burlington’s Executive Director of Educational Support Systems, Kristin Romick, acknowledged in her letter that staffing shortages were impacting the ability to provide services guaranteed by students’ IEPs. She reaffirmed the district’s obligation to provide these required services despite the shortages.
Cammie Naylor, a staff attorney at Vermont Legal Aid, highlighted that while staffing shortages are a pressing issue, they do not relieve school districts of their responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). She remarked, “We have known for some time that education staffing is at a crisis level,” calling the situation complicated for affected families.
As these districts navigate the challenges posed by staffing shortages, parents and advocates continue to advocate for the educational rights of students with disabilities, emphasizing the need for immediate solutions to ensure all students receive the support they need to succeed.
