Special education needs its funding

Watch out is right when dealing with changes to special education rules and laws (“Proceed with caution,” Soapbox, Feb. 23). Many of these laws are federally based and funded — and for good reason, one of them being so local schools can’t start cutting corners, increasing class sizes and basically discriminating against special needs students. Yes, they take more time, more resources and money. That’s why many years ago laws were passed to guarantee these students an education in a public school setting.

I have a child who went through the special education system in the public schools in Districts 59 and 214 during the 1980s and 1990s. Even with the stringent laws in place, I still had to fight for services and monitor constantly that those services were being delivered. Changing those rules and regulations would only serve to hurt the children who so desperately need those services. Let’s balance their school budgets another way, not on the backs of those most vulnerable and least able to speak for themselves.

Barbara Gier

Prospect Heights