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Parents and advocates tell APS board special-education services are inconsistent; call for better data and accountability
Summary
Speakers told the Atlanta Board of Education that special-education IEPs and services are being delayed or inconsistently implemented, with requests for stronger data collection, accountability and transportation reliability.
Parents, advocates and a parent-support adviser described recurring problems with implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and support services across Atlanta Public Schools.
A commenter said data must drive special-education decisions: "Data collection is the only way that we can change the story in special education," urging better training for staff and consistent data practices across IEP meetings.
Nisha Dobbs, identifying herself as a parent support adviser and field team manager with Atlanta Thrive, said families are seeing students with disabilities go "weeks and sometimes months without appropriate services," that IEP meetings are sometimes held without data or draft plans, and that transportation and compensatory-service gaps persist. "That is not compliance," she said, and asked the board to specify accountability measures to ensure fidelity of IEP implementation across schools.
Board members heard requests for clear training and monitoring of case managers, faster response times to families, and improved transparency on service delivery. The administration did not present a detailed corrective plan during public comment; parents asked the board to require written follow-up and operational accountability from central office staff.
