Petition to Preserve Integration Station (IS)

Arlington is a community that prides itself on its commitment to innovation, as well as the high quality of services and programs it offers. This commitment has played a significant role in attracting innovative companies such as Amazon, CoStar Group, and Nestlé. However, recent news has emerged that the upcoming budget proposal includes the closure of Integration Station (IS), an exemplary educational program that serves one of our most vulnerable populations: children ages 2 to 5 with varying levels of disability.

For the past 30 years, IS has been a pioneer in the integrated special education model, providing a supportive and inclusive environment for up students with varying disabilities at a time. Over the years, it has served more than 1,500 children with special needs, not including the impact this program has had on several thousand peers that learn alongside them, offering an ideal, holistic educational experience. The program provides specialized classrooms with varying levels of integration, ensuring that students receive essential therapies such as speech, physical, and occupational therapy, in addition to enriching specials like art, physical education, and music.

The proposed budget recommends moving these children to their respective neighborhood schools (also known as "home schools"), but this plan raises significant concerns. While federal law mandates that services required under a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must still be provided, alternative integrated programs, such as Community Peer Programs (CPP), are not guaranteed at most home schools. In fact, some home schools do not even offer integrated preschool programs, and others may face issues with enrollment and meeting federal requirements. Specifically, to meet the federal requirement for general education designation on a student's IEP, a 50/50 ratio of students with IEPs and general education students must be maintained—something that may not be feasible at many schools.

Moreover, one of the key benefits of IS is that it brings children from across Arlington, both North and South, to a single location where they can access the same high-quality services. This provides equitable resources to all students, regardless of where they live. The proposed changes jeopardize this equity and risk disrupting the continuity of services, leaving a significant gap in the care and support that these children require. For young children, especially those with disabilities, stability and routine are critical for success. Any disruption to their educational and therapeutic services could have long-lasting negative effects.

Integration Station’s team is made up of highly trained educators who have spent their careers specializing in early childhood education and the unique needs of the special education community. These educators are experts in providing the necessary care and support for these children. Their experience is invaluable, and they are uniquely equipped to meet the needs of the population they serve.

We urge you to join us in advocating for the preservation of Integration Station and the essential services it provides. Let’s work together to ensure that Arlington continues to lead by example in providing high-quality, inclusive education for all children. We cannot afford to dismantle a program that has been vital to our community for the past 30 years.

Together, we can ensure a future that prioritizes equity, inclusion, and quality education for all Arlington’s children.

Should you wish to show your support in person, the please feel free to join the following upcoming board meetings and WEAR RED!  The hope is this proposal doesn't make it into the budget presented on March 13th. 

Read ARLnow's article here: https://www.arlnow.com/2025/02/24/aps-may-shutter-integration-station-program-for-coming-school-year/

WTOP: https://wtop.com/arlington/2025/02/arlington-family-speaks-out-about-consequences-of-cutting-program-for-special-duration-students/ 

The APS School Board meets twice a month on Thursdays at 7:00pm in the Syphax Education
Center, 2110 Washington Blvd., 2nd Floor.
Here are the next few meetings:
● Thursday, February 27th
● Thursday, March 13th (Budget proposal at this meeting)
● Thursday, March 27th
● Thursday, April 10th
● Thursday, May 1st (Budget adopted at this meeting)