It's like once NCLB came in, it all became about finding failing kids, and the whole idea of discrepancy and helping each child reach potential went out the window. There's no reward to the school for helping our kids like there is for helping to bring up the floor of the population. And they can easily turn their back with their interpretation of the law to support them.
Our district tried to operate like this when DS was in K, but we came at them with more and more resources until they changed their tune and granted him appropriate services. I see it as a form of gatekeeping; but persistent and well-funded (sigh) parents here do find their way through the gate, and once you're through, the services are good.
IMO it "stinks from the head down"; if the district's person in charge of special ed is hostile or a bean-counter, or the school board is apathetic, they are more likely to make things awful for families.
Around here (this site) I see lots of people going the extra mile for their kids; in the long run that also changes the school for the next kid, sometimes...
DeeDee
