Parents Address Special Education In Edmond Public Schools

As Oklahoma grapples with the teacher shortage, families in Edmond Public Schools said it seems special education departments are suffering most.

Bobby Kern, a father and professor at Oklahoma Christian University, has a son with down syndrome who has been a part of Edmonds special education program since he was three.

He said while it's been good, the program could always use more teachers.

"We need to pay them what they are worth," Kern said. "They're worth is to us, the quality they bring to our kids' lives is amazing."

President of the Oklahoma Education Association Katherine Bishop said federal law doesn't allow districts to declare an emergency for special education.

"Districts are in a tighter bind making sure that they have special educators to help us teach our students with disabilities," Bishop said.

Bishop said the OEA is working to make special education resources better, but Kern said he'd like to see more inclusion among the schools, such as mixing general and special education classes.

Kern also said teachers in the special education program have always been very supportive, and that he just wants to see it continue to grow and retain staff.