Huffington Magazine Issue 83 | Page 58

LOST BOY tion students. The district maintains that its new programs have improved its special education offerings, making public schools a better fit for students with all types of disabilities. Beers says the district is currently building up capacity so that its classrooms are equipped to teach children who were previously shunted into private schools. And he cautions that these decisions are nuanced. “The mayor wants to continue to see reductions in our nonpublic population. HUFFINGTON 01.12.14 I have agreed ... that this is a goal that we need to continue to pursue,” Beers said. “We won’t pursue it if we can’t ensure that kids aren’t getting the services they need. ... There’s no one who comes to me when I make a recommendation ... and says, ‘Oh no, you can’t do that because we don’t have the money.’” Meanwhile, in August 2012, DCPS transferred Max to Tyler Elementary School. Once again, school administrators didn’t realize Max had autism. Greg and Maya had requested Emily Schneider, the only teacher in D.C. certified in a special be- Greg testifies before the DC Council’s Education Committee on April 22, 2013.