In the summer, the Chicago school district cut about 500 special education teachers and aides from its payroll—saving about $42 million, it said—and recently announced that it plans to make additional cuts of about $12 million.
The cuts would amount to 70 teachers and aides. A school spokeswoman said the reductions were necessary because of an enrollment drop in the 400,000-student district, which is facing a $480 million budget gap.
School administrators told local news organizations that any further cuts would damage their ability to provide a free, appropriate public education to their students with disabilities.
