Feb 4, 2025, Ottumwa Radio: Iowa lawmakers must make special education, children’s mental health a priority
The topic of special education didn’t come up in Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Condition of the State address on Jan. 14, but it should have.
The number of students receiving special education services nationwide has risen nearly 73% from 1990 through 2023, per the U.S. Department of education. . . .
The Iowa Department of Education lists special education grades 5-12 as its greatest area of need for teachers. The reality is all teachers are special education teachers regardless of what endorsements they pursue in college.
I started this school year with one class that was more than 60% special education students and a second class that was more than 70% special education students. . . .
Classroom behavior issues are one of the leading causes of teacher burnout. My experience tells me most behavior issues are rooted in learning challenges, childhood trauma, and mental health struggles. . . .
I am in the middle of my third year as a teacher and even with support from fellow teachers, administration, and Heartland Area Education Agency, I am often overwhelmed by the diversity of needs that I frankly feel clueless as how to manage.
I attributed my frustration to my newness to the field, but when I talked to career teachers without a special education background, they all said the same thing: The took a similar survey course as mine and it was not enough.
I don’t want to suggest that every prospective teacher be mandated to take the full, rigorous spectrum of courses required to earn a special education endorsement.
However, Gov. Reynolds and lawmakers must consider requiring more coursework in special education.
Specifically, all teachers need:
A course focused on childhood brain development through adolescence.
Courses focused on diverse learning needs with special attention to the best instructional practices for autism spectrum disorder, attention deficient hyperactive disorder, and emotional and behavioral disorders.
A full class on child psychology from early childhood through adolescence. . . .
Every classroom teacher needs a broader knowledge base to meet the needs of students receiving special education services and help them achieve grade-level standards and beyond.
Further, lawmakers would do well to invest in school counselors. The job has evolved from educators who helped students schedule classes and plan for college or careers to full-on mental health crises response teams. . . .
Schools need full-time mental health professionals. . . .
However, making Iowa’s special education and children’s mental health services needs a top priority, the lawmakers have a chance to make the lives of tens of thousands of Iowans better and build a brighter future.
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