Candidates say Lowell must do more after audit found gaps in special education services

Several Lowell School Committee candidates responded to questions about a recent audit that, they said, found shortcomings in how the district delivers special-education services and implements individualized education programs (IEPs).

Panelists described administrative difficulty in producing and implementing required IEP services, and said families sometimes wait months — in some cases more than a year — for complaints to be resolved. Candidates urged the district and committee to require more transparent reporting on special-education compliance and to invest more administrative capacity into evaluation and timely service delivery.

Speakers recommended connecting the school committee’s special-education subcommittee more closely to those oversight tasks so it can monitor corrective steps and that the district share audit findings with the committee and public. One panelist described a cycle in which children lose educational time while complaints are adjudicated and then require ‘‘recovery’’ services later in their education.

During the forum, candidates said the school committee should direct administration to provide clearer updates on IEP implementation and that families should escalate concerns to the superintendent and committee when services are delayed. The forum itself did not adopt any formal policy; candidates presented their plans if elected to pursue stronger accountability and more resources for special education.