Three years after Alexandria schools were warned their special education programs didn’t meet federal standards, parents are still angry that the schools are now providing only the minimal levels of service required. A Virginia Department of Education review in 2008 found that the school system was failing to meet federally required standards for special education in six areas, from poor discipline procedures to a lack of career training opportunities.

Yvonne Folkerts, chairwoman of the Alexandria School Board, said the program now fulfills all federal standards, but just barely. School officials and parents alike say the program must stop settling for less, but Alexandria continues to lag behind on some basic services, she said.