Should your zip code dictate your support? So many families in Nashville worry every single day about whether their children will get the special education they desperately need. While some students receive support, others never do. The difference has the ability to change a child’s life.  

Metro Nashville Public Schools serves about 12,000 students with disabilities, which is about 15 percent of all MNPS students. For these students, special education resources are vital for learning, communication and inclusivity. What’s the issue? Support depends on which school they attend in the district. A student in a well-resourced school may have access to a whole team of specialists and a plethora of resources, whereas a lower income student may not. It’s the same city but different support levels. In a society that is so passionate about increasing inclusion, this is a disappointment.  

Understandably, both teachers and families have been upset by the gaps. A recent Tennessee report found that only 32 percent of special education teachers had the resources available to assess and aid students’ behavioral needs. Children in families that are unable to pay for therapy and tutoring are forced to fall further and further behind. 

These disparities carry a heavy toll on students. A child who doesn’t receive early math or reading help will likely struggle for years. A student with Autism Spectrum Disorder who does not receive behavior and communication therapies may struggle socially and feel alone. Some begin to think they are the problem, but they aren’t. The system is.  

Funding is a major contributor to this gap. In 1975, the federal government pledged to fund 40 percent of special education costs through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. How many times has the government fulfilled this commitment? Zero. The government has never paid more than 13 percent, and this leaves schools scrambling. Most schools have too few aides and lack materials. Some even have only one special education teacher for dozens of students.  

Teacher shortages are also hurting students. Special education is one of the hardest positions to fill in Tennessee, with 85 percent of districts in the state reporting staffing shortages. Many teachers leave within five years. The workload is intense, the appreciation is minimal, and the pay doesn’t match the responsibility.  

Nonetheless, there are some bright spots. Some Nashville schools are working to increase inclusion programs. Local organizations like The Arc Tennessee and Transition School to Work Program offer support, training and, importantly, advocacy. MNPS has added staff training and partnerships to bolster community support. These steps are great. They help, but they do not fix everything.  

So, what do we need to do to solve this problem? 

First, funding needs to be increased. And it must be fair. Schools with extremely high-needs students must get more support. It cannot be solely the affluent zip codes that receive good resources. Only 12 percent of MNPS schools sit in high-opportunity zip codes, and schools in lower-opportunity areas consistently have fewer academic and support services. There needs to be more specialists, more intervention programs and more training — unrelated to one’s address.  

Second, an emphasis needs to be placed on identifying students with disabilities early. Schools need to have an adequate number of psychologists, speech therapists, occupation therapists, behavioral therapists and counselors that help proactively. Support needs to begin before a child falls behind, not after. 

Third, inclusion must grow. Individuals with special needs are present throughout all of society, yet many neurotypical children and adults lack exposure to the community. This is a problem. All students should learn what special education is and how to support classmates. Schools can start peer-support programs, hold awareness events and teach empathy. The special needs community is not going anywhere, so we should invest in bridging the gap.  

Most of all, Nashville needs to remember the human side. Behind every statistic is a child who wants to feel like they belong. A student who wants to learn with confidence. A family who wants to see their kid succeed. The special needs community is not asking for royal treatments but for fairness. They want the same chance as everyone else. 

Education is critical to the success of society. Real change will take money, training, policy and awareness. It will take a community that refuses to accept inadequate and unequal support. It will take a community that fights for the least of these. The students who need the most help should not receive the least. Nashville is proud of its schools, but pride means little if a single child is left behind.