I want to thank The Malibu Times for their thorough coverage of our local school system. I am a resident of Santa Monica and I found myself turning to The Malibu Times due to the accuracy of its reporting on this topic.
It is heartbreaking that Malibu High and Lincoln Middle School had to turn back their distinguished school awards. However, both schools had to turn back the award for the same reasons-the lack of progress with special education students.
As a parent of a with a teenager with autism, I hope the communities will take this as an opportunity to address the long-term concerns voiced to the district and in the press by special education parents regarding the deep and serious deficiencies in instructional programs for special education students.
Because other schools in the state were able to meet these targets, it is my hope that our schools will be able to do so as well.
If they do, Malibu High and other schools will be able to apply for and receive such awards as in the future.
Claudia Landis