Schools have been largely affected by the economic turn down, and are slowly regaining their footing along with the recovering economy. However, while cuts are still the norm, one school district has avoided becoming becoming part of the statistic. According to NJ.com, the school board decided against making cuts to its special education program. "This is an area that is completely out of control and in desperate need of reform," said Larrie Reynolds, superintendent of Mount Olive School District, to the news source. "Everything else has a finite limit. Special education - in this state, at least - is similar to the universe. It has no end. It is the untold story of what every school district is dealing with." According to the news source, 18% of New Jersey's school children were in special education programs during this past school year, up from 16% in 2002 and 13% in 1985. Students in special education classes include students with speech difficulties, behavioral problems and physical or mental impairments that range from mild to severe. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of special education teachers is expected to increase by 17% between 2008 and 2018.  |