Independent review finds uneven services, large achievement gaps in Knox County special education; recommends 14-step, 3–5 year action plan

Public Consulting Group (PCG) presented its independent review of special education services in Knox County Schools to the Board of Education at a May 5 work session, concluding the district has important strengths but also “critical areas of focus” that require a multi‑year response.

PCG’s report, delivered by Dr. Maria Ulick and Dr. Jennifer Baraboe, recommended 14 prioritized actions and a three‑to‑five year roadmap to address staffing and workload issues, inconsistencies in co‑teaching and inclusive practice, growing achievement gaps and several instances of disproportionality in eligibility and placement decisions.

Why it matters: the review found Knox County Schools (KCS) is exceeding state targets for some inclusive placements but still shows large performance gaps between students with disabilities and their peers and uneven implementation of district systems that the consultants say must be made consistent to improve outcomes for thousands of students.

PCG said the district has clear strengths, including an inclusive blended preschool model, Project SEARCH as a strong transition program, and a cadre of committed staff. But the consultants also documented recurring tensions that affect decision making: some families said legal complaints were their only route to secure services, while staff described making decisions with litigation risk in mind. PCG wrote that these “competing perspectives” have strained relationships and can steer decisions away from data‑driven, student‑centered outcomes.

The consultants highlighted four priority areas: (1) resolving competing…