LAUSD Candidate Andreas Farmakalidis on Special Education

“Engaging parents and guardians in the special education process is key.”

– BD1 Candidate Andreas Farmakalidis

Andreas Farmakalidis, who is one of seven candidates running against incumbent Scott Schmerelson in LAUSD’s Board District 3, has been an active participant in the LAUSD Candidate Forum series. In addition to the answers below, Farmakalidis also responded to the ones about PROP-39 co-locations.

For the October edition of this series, Farmakalidis was asked five questions about Special Education. For the introduction to this subject along with answers from other candidates, please see the article LAUSD Candidate Forum: Special Education.

The following are the candidate's responses, printed exactly how he provided them, with the exception of some minor formatting edits:

• Question 1: If you were on the Board, would you sponsor and work for the passage of the proposed "Improving Special Education Within the LAUSD" resolution? YES

I believe in the importance of quality education for all students, including those with special needs. When I am on the Board, I would carefully review the "Improving Special Education Within the LAUSD" resolution to ensure that it aligns with our commitment to providing equitable opportunities and support for every student. I would work collaboratively with fellow board members, educators, parents, and community stakeholders to make informed decisions that benefit the students and families in the Los Angeles Unified School District. It's essential to prioritize the well-being and educational success of all our students, and I would consider this resolution with that goal in mind.

The inclusion of special education within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is a critical aspect of ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all students. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) plays a pivotal role in guiding the provision of special education services.

This is how I would approach this matter:

Compliance with IDEA: The first step in improving special education within the LAUSD is to ensure strict compliance with the IDEA. This federal law mandates that all students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). As a member of the Board, I would prioritize adherence to IDEA regulations to protect the rights of students with disabilities and their families.

Resource Allocation: Adequate resources must be allocated to support special education programs. This includes funding for specialized staff, classroom materials, assistive technology, and professional development for educators. I would advocate for a fair distribution of resources to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities.

Inclusive Education: Inclusion is a core principle of special education. LAUSD should work towards creating a more inclusive learning environment where students with disabilities can learn alongside their peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. This promotes social integration and helps students with disabilities access a more diverse educational experience.

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs): Each student with a disability should have an Individualized Education Plan tailored to their specific needs. I would support the development and implementation of high-quality IEPs that involve parents, educators, and specialists to create personalized learning paths.

Teacher Training: It's crucial to provide teachers with the necessary training and professional development opportunities to effectively teach students with disabilities. Investing in ongoing teacher education in special education strategies and best practices is essential.

Early Intervention: Identifying and addressing learning disabilities or developmental delays at an early stage is vital. LAUSD should have effective screening processes in place to ensure early intervention for children who may require special education services.

Parental Engagement: Engaging parents and guardians in the special education process is key. I would encourage the district to foster strong partnerships with families, providing them with information, resources, and opportunities to actively participate in their child's education.

Equity and Access: I would champion efforts to eliminate disparities in access to special education services among different student populations. Every student, regardless of their background or location within the district, should have equal access to high-quality special education services.

Evaluation and Accountability: Regularly assessing the effectiveness of special education programs and services is essential. LAUSD should establish clear metrics for measuring progress and hold itself accountable for achieving positive outcomes for students with disabilities.

Collaboration: Collaboration among various stakeholders, including educators, administrators, parents, advocacy groups, and government agencies, is critical. I would encourage open dialogue and cooperation to continually improve special education services within LAUSD.

In conclusion, my approach to improving special education within the LAUSD would prioritize compliance with IDEA, resource allocation, inclusive education, personalized plans, teacher training, early intervention, parental engagement, equity, evaluation, and collaboration. By focusing on these areas, we can work towards providing every student with the support and opportunities they need to succeed in their educational journey.

• Question 2: Have you signed the petition supporting the proposed "Improving Special Education Within the LAUSD" resolution? YES

I believe in the importance of supporting initiatives that aim to improve special education within the LAUSD. Providing quality education for all students, including those with special needs, is crucial for a just and equitable society. I encourage everyone to consider signing the petition to help make positive changes in our education system. I even shared this petition on my social media as a story.

• Question 3: Federal funding to provide Special Education services is based on the size of the total student body, not the number of students receiving services. Therefore, charter schools benefit financially by discouraging the enrollment of these students as they receive the same amount of funding without having to pay the costs of providing the services. Not surprisingly, the data shows that charter schools as a whole enroll a smaller percentage of children with Special Education needs than their public school counterparts. As a Board Member would you look for ways to recoup the costs from charter schools that have below-average enrollment of students with Special Education needs? YES

It's essential that we ensure every child, regardless of their needs, receives a quality education. The current funding model that doesn't account for the number of students receiving special education services is a concern. As a Board Member, I would certainly explore ways to address this issue. We should consider revising the funding formula to provide more resources to schools serving a higher percentage of students with special needs. This would incentivize charter schools to enroll and support these students adequately. Our goal should always be to create an equitable education system that serves all students

Some suggested solutions to address the issue of charter schools benefiting financially from discouraging the enrollment of students with special education needs while receiving the same amount of funding:

Revised Funding Formula: Adjust the funding formula to allocate more resources to schools based on the number of students receiving special education services. This would provide an incentive for charter schools to actively support and enroll students with special needs.

Transparency and Accountability: Implement transparency measures that require charter schools to report their enrollment of students with special education needs. Establish accountability mechanisms to ensure that charter schools are not discouraging enrollment.

Financial Penalties and Incentives: Consider financial penalties for charter schools with below-average enrollment of special education students and incentives for those that actively enroll and support them.

It's crucial that both financial penalties and incentives are implemented as part of a comprehensive strategy that also includes monitoring, support, and resources to ensure that charter schools have the tools and knowledge to meet the needs of all students, including those with special education requirements.

Collaboration with Public Schools: Encourage collaboration between charter schools and public schools to share best practices for special education services and inclusion, ensuring that all students have access to quality education.

Parental Education and Choice: Educate parents about their rights and options for special education services. Empower parents to make informed choices about the best educational setting for their children.

Increased Oversight: Strengthen oversight and monitoring of charter schools' enrollment practices and special education services to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Community Engagement: Engage the community, including parents, educators, and advocacy groups, your local chamber of commerce and the neighborhood council in discussions and decisions regarding funding and enrollment practices in charter schools.

Legislative Reforms: Advocate for legislative reforms that address funding disparities and promote inclusivity in charter schools.

These solutions aim to create a fair and equitable education system that serves the needs of all students, including those with special education requirements.

• Question 4: Will you have a member of your staff dedicated to supporting families with Special Education needs? YES

Supporting families with Special Education needs is a top priority. I believe in creating a dedicated role within my staff to ensure that these families receive the assistance and advocacy they deserve. It's crucial to have someone who can address their concerns, connect them with the right resources, and work towards creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment for all children. This commitment reflects my belief in equal access to quality education for every child, regardless of their needs.

This staff member would serve as a liaison between families and the educational system, ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed effectively. Their responsibilities would include:

Advocacy: Advocating for families with Special Education needs to ensure their children receive the appropriate services, accommodations, and resources to thrive academically and socially.

Resource Navigation: Assisting families in navigating the complex web of services, programs, and support networks available to them, both within the education system and the broader community.

Collaboration: Facilitating collaboration between parents, educators, and school administrators to develop individualized education plans (IEPs) that meet the specific needs of each student.

Education and Awareness: Promoting awareness and understanding of Special Education among school staff, parents, and the community at large to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Conflict Resolution: Mediating and resolving conflicts that may arise between families and educational institutions, ensuring that disputes are resolved in the best interest of the student.

Policy Advocacy: Advocating for policy changes and improvements in Special Education services at the local, state, and federal levels to continually enhance support for these students.

This dedicated role underscores my commitment to equity in education, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. By providing tailored support and advocacy for families with Special Education needs, I aim to create a more inclusive and accessible educational system that leaves no student behind.

• Question 5: As a Board member will you ensure that the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is able to act independently of District staff so that it can provide you with feedback that is truly reflective of what the Special Education community is experiencing? YES

I firmly believe in the importance of community input and feedback. The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) plays a critical role in representing the Special Education community's perspectives and needs. To ensure that it can provide genuine and independent feedback, it's vital that the CAC operates with a degree of autonomy from District staff.

An independent CAC can better reflect the real experiences and concerns of the Special Education community, offering valuable insights that can guide decision-making. I support measures to empower the CAC to operate independently, free from undue influence, and to provide unfiltered feedback that benefits all students and families in our district. After all, it's essential that we listen to and understand the unique challenges faced by our Special Education community to improve our educational services for them.

Having had the opportunity to teach in various parts of the world, I recognize the significance of learning from educational approaches in various countries.

Improving the independence and effectiveness of Community Advisory Committees (CACs) in the context of Special Education can draw inspiration from some European practices related to parent and community involvement in education. Here are some ideas:

Legal Autonomy: Develop legislation or regulations that establish the legal autonomy of CACs, ensuring that they have the authority to operate independently and make recommendations without interference from District staff.

Transparent Selection Process: Implement a transparent and community-driven selection process for CAC members. This can involve elections or appointments that involve parents and advocates rather than solely relying on District staff

Diverse Representation: Ensure that CACs have diverse representation, including parents, educators, special education experts, and community advocates. A variety of perspectives can lead to more comprehensive and balanced feedback.

Direct Reporting: Establish a direct reporting mechanism for CACs to communicate their recommendations and findings directly to the Board or relevant decision-making bodies, bypassing any potential filtering by District staff

Support and Resources: Provide CACs with adequate resources, such as funding for research, access to legal counsel, and administrative support, to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.

Regular Meetings: Mandate regular and public meetings of the CAC to discuss and deliberate on Special Education matters openly. These meetings can serve as a platform for community engagement and transparency

Community Outreach: Encourage CACs to engage in outreach efforts to solicit input and feedback from the broader Special Education community, including parents, students, and advocates.

Annual Reports: Require CACs to submit annual reports summarizing their activities, recommendations, and findings. These reports should be made publicly available to ensure transparency

Policy Impact: Ensure that the recommendations of CACs have a direct impact on policy decisions related to Special Education, and establish mechanisms to track the implementation of these recommendations.

Evaluation and Accountability: Implement periodic evaluations of CACs to assess their effectiveness and ensure that they continue to operate independently and in the best interest of the Special Education community.

• Do you have any other thoughts that you would like to express about this subject?

I would like to mentioned that besides my political science background, I am a trained music teacher with specialized training in working with individuals who have specific disabilities. I pursued this advanced study program at the prestigious conservatory in Rotterdam, Netherlands, enhancing my expertise in performance, composition but also in providing music education tailored to the unique needs of diverse learners.

As educators and policymakers, we are not confined by the borders of our own classrooms or countries. We are citizens of the world, and our duty is to seek wisdom from every corner of it.

We should always remember that as educators and policymakers, we have a responsibility to continually seek knowledge and insights from diverse educational systems to better serve the needs of our students and communities. It's a testament to the value of global collaboration in education.

I appreciate the opportunity to express my thoughts and insights on this matter. Thank you.

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Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD’s District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him “a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles.” For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.