Some parents, teachers opposed to change in Oakland special ed

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) -- A debate over a proposed plan to change special education policy in Oakland on Thursday had teachers and parents protesting the superintendent's idea. 

Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Antwan Wilson says he wants to help all students with an idea that would move special education students from what he calls exclusion to inclusion. 

A small group of parents, students and teachers gathered before Thursday night's meeting saying they're not onboard with the proposal. 

"You can make claims about it being for equity, but to say the equity is you get to be in the general education classroom with everybody else. That to me is a real take away," said Special Education Teacher Mark Airgood. 

The district says nearly 15 percent of its student body has special needs.  Some school leaders say those students aren't being challenged. 

That's why they want to move mild to moderate special needs students into general education classrooms.  District officials say they spent a year reviewing the proposed change, which would integrate as many students as possible into a main stream environment. 

According to the district, only seven percent of its special education students graduate with the minimum requirements needed for college. That's something that needs to change. 

"What we want to do is put them in this environment give them the support they need to succeed, watch them thrive and watch them graduate," said Oakland Unified School District spokesperson Troy Flint.  

Flint says the district isn't making the change to save money.  In fact, he says the district is spending more for better trained teaching assistants called paraprofessionals who will help the special needs student in all aspects of their transition and everyday learning environment.

Still the plan will have to get the approval from the school board and that vote may come as soon as November.