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Committee presses finalists on special education, IEP access and out‑of‑district placements
Summary
Committee members pressed finalists about IEP transparency, the district's high out‑of‑district placement rate and how to return students to district classrooms. All three finalists proposed more family engagement, data audits and least‑restrictive‑environment practices.
Several committee members raised persistent concerns about special education services: Vice Chair Hunter noted that about 22% of Cambridge students are on individualized education plans and said parents' climate‑survey responses show many do not feel sufficiently involved. Candidates agreed the district must increase transparency, invite parents into the evaluation process and audit out‑of‑district placements to identify return pathways.
David Murphy said district leaders must adopt a listening posture, empower school communities and follow through on commitments to rebuild trust. Sanchez proposed a data audit of IEPs and trend tracking disaggregated by race to inform interventions; Lorenzo Garcia emphasized authentic evaluations, timely compliance and that parents should have access to records. "Parents should have access to records anytime they want," Garcia said.
