Report: Hartford Schools Failing Troubled Students (CT)

July 8, 2010

A state investigation into the Hartford Public Schools has found students with emotional and behavioral disorders fac e illegal segregation and discrimination.

On Wednesday, the independent Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities released the resultsRequires Adobe Acrobat Reader of a two-year investigation into complaints from parents about how their children have been treated by the school system.

The report follows years of highly publicized efforts to improve the city’s troubled school system, including building new magnet schools and creating a budgeting system based on students’ needs.

"It’s as if the reform was taking place for everybody else and not for them," said James McGaughey, executive director of the agency, referring to students identified as having emotional and behavioral problems.

"We think there is evidence there is a pattern of discrimination in the way resources are being used," he added.

McGaughey said his office’s investigation found "significant evidence" that Hartford’s practices violate federal anti-discrimination laws. The office, in letters sent Wednesday, requested further investigations by the State Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.

Both agencies have the power to order the Hartford school system to make changes in how it serves students with special needs, he said.

David Medina, a spokesman for the public school system, had no immediate comment on the report.

"We are examining it carefully and hope to have a response by tomorrow," he said.

In response to a separate state Department of Education investigation into an indivi dual program, the school system said last month that Hartford has a disproportionate number of students with severe behavioral disabilities.

"The number has increased because regional magnet schools, open choice suburban schools and charter schools have not offered appropriate programs for these students," according to a statement from the district.

The statement said the district "expects to find a workable, economically feasible solution that improves the educational opportunity for these students."

During visits to various Hartford schools that serve students with emotional and behavioral problems, staff from the Office of Protection and Advocacy found scarce resources, such as functioning computers, stationary supplies, resource materials and appropriate space for students to work. One site had no drinking fountain or water cooler. Recreational space was limited and the only exercise available to students was to sweep the sidewalk, according to the report.

"Even this was stopped after it was pointed out that busy traffic on the adjacent street presented possible dangers," the report said.

Investigators found a lack of counselors, psychologists and clinical staff, even though the programs were described as therapeutic. Often the special education students were separated from the other students and denied access to certain areas when those other students were present.

McGaughey said the investigation also determined that police were being called frequently to deal with behavior problems and students with mental disabilities were being arrested.