D.C. school officials are turning to an Indianapolis nonprofit group to help rescue them from a decades-long special education nightmare.
Choices Inc. has been paid nearly $3.4 million by the state superintendent’s office since the beginning of the year for a pilot project to provide services in D.C. for troubled city kids, records obtained by The Examiner show. The contract is an effort to keep children in the District — and out of the pricey out-of-state clinics that have faced hundreds of complaints of abuse and neglect.
“For too long, students in D.C. with behavior health needs have had scarce service options,” acting State Superintendent Kerri Briggs told The Examiner in an e-mail. “This project ensures access to an array of service options including intensive wraparound services for students who need them.”
The city spends more than $300 million annually to take care of about 10,000 special education students, whose disabilities range from attention deficit disorder to cerebral palsy. It is the most expensive special-ed system in the country.
Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s efforts to fix the problems have met spotty results. She has already replaced two special-ed directors and remains under two federal consent decrees.
The Examiner reported earlier this year on the collapse of Rhee’s so-called “transition academy” for troubled teens at abandoned Shadd Elementary School. The building was filthy, there wasn’t enough staff and there were daily violent outbreaks that sent several kids to hospitals. A federal court monitor called Shadd “a disaster” and has urged Rhee to close the school.
Rhee couldn’t be reached for comment Friday. Her spokeswoman, Jennifer Calloway, said the academy would remain open. She declined further comment.
Choices, the Indianapolis nonprofit, is headed by a former Nebraska child welfare official, Knute Rotto. The group’s tax returns show that it made more than $37 million in government contracts last year. Rotto didn’t respond to requests for comment.
City Councilwoman Mary Cheh, D-Ward 3, an outspoken advocate for special-ed reform, said she was guardedly optimistic to hear about the Choices contract.
“Here’s the thing: I can’t personally attest to whether one placement where there’s bad treatment is worse than another place where’s there bad treatment,” she said. “But I do think it’s always better to keep the children closer to home where we can keep a closer eye on them.”
