Detroit: District failing SPED students; 16.2% of students have special needs

July 11, 2018, Detroit News: Detroit schools target special ed failures https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2018/07/10/detroit-schools-target-ailing-special-ed/739582002/ Michigan's largest school district is failing its special education students by not meeting their needs or identifying them as early as possible to provide necessary services, according to its superintendent and the early results of two audits. Detroit Public Schools Community District superintendent Nikolai Vitti is calling for sweeping changes to the district's special education department and created a plan to address district shortfalls when it comes to providing the legally mandated evaluations and services. … The district had 8,240 students deemed eligible for services last year, which is 16.2 percent of its population, compared to 13.1 percent statewide.