<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4M34de_1H4cvcbv00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4M34de_1H4cvcbv00" width="1200" height="600" ><p>TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The Tucson Unified School District governing board will vote Dec. 8 on whether to close seven schools and convert one of those campuses into a school specifically for students with autism and behavioral challenges.</p><p>Parents of students with autism say their children’s education could be disrupted if their schools close. Critics of the plan say it could hurt student outcomes.</p><h2>Parent describes search for school</h2><p>Rebecca Flynn, a TUSD parent, said she struggled to find the right school for her son, Victorious, who has autism. She decided to try public school and transferred him to Cragin Elementary.</p><p>“As soon as I walked into the school, it just felt like a warm welcome,” Flynn said.</p><p>Cragin is one of the seven schools that may close, and Flynn said she’s heartbroken.</p><p>“If it’s closed, we might move to another place — another school,” Victorious said.</p><h2>District cites rising autism rates</h2><p>The district would turn one of the seven schools, Cavett Elementary, into a school for students with autism.</p><p>TUSD said autism rates have tripled in the last five years, from 5% to 15% of all students. The share of students with greater support needs has doubled, according to the district.</p><p>Sabrina Salmon, TUSD Senior Director of Exceptional Education, said that can affect learning for all students.</p><p>“Sometimes we have situations where we need to evacuate the classrooms because the behavior is impeding learning, and so that’s highly disruptive to all students,” said Salmon, who has a Ph.D.</p><p>Salmon said a separate school would offer more resources and support. She said it will cost about $400,000 and that placement in the new school would not be permanent.</p><p>“Our goal is for this to be very short-term,” Salmon said. “We can certainly service more students if we only have them there a short amount of time and then transition them out.”</p><h2>Professor cites research</h2><p>Kirsten Lansey, a University of Arizona assistant professor, said research points to worse results for students in separate schools.</p><p>“The biggest concern that I have is that these schools actually result in poorer short and long-term outcomes,” said Lansey, who has a Ph.D.</p><p>Lansey said separate schools are an equity issue.</p><p>“It’s a humongous equity issue that is so norm and embedded within our schools and our districts that no one even questions it,” Lansey said.</p><p>The next TUSD board meeting is Tuesday, November 17th at Sahuaro High School.</p></div></body>

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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The Tucson Unified School District governing board will vote Dec. 8 on whether to close seven schools and convert one of those campuses into a school specifically for students with autism and behavioral challenges. Parents of students with autism say their children’s education could be...

TUSD proposes new school for students with autism

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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The Tucson Unified School District governing board will vote Dec. 8 on whether to close seven schools and convert one of those ca

TUSD proposes new school for students with autism

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