WSMV, 7/31/24
The data showed that one out of every four times a child is sent home from school in Tennessee (either suspended or expelled), the student had disabilities even though those with disabilities only make up 14 percent of all students at Tennessee public schools. “I think it is a lack of resources, both capital and human resources, available to support these students,” Jeff Strand with the Tennessee Disability Coalition said. Strand said the real issue is understaffing. He said the local districts don’t have enough psychologists, counselors, social workers or teachers to adequately identify and correct classroom behavior issues. Simply sending kids home has become a shortcut. “If you perpetually kick the can down the line, you are graduating a kid who is unprepared to live in our communities with us,” Strand said. “Ultimately, they will end up being institutionalized, whether that be in jail or at an institution for people with disabilities.” You can read TDC’s recent report on this here.