When Washington schools can't help some youth in crisis, they're sent out of state

Pandemic disruptions have brought the gaps in Washington's special education services into sharp focus.

Some families are having to make a tough decision: sending their children far across the country to specialized boarding schools with services that meet their needs.

The Covid-19 pandemic upended many of the services students depend on. For Robin Marie and her son Brennan, that meant a sudden pivot to an all virtual, at home education. Brennan attended a school in Issaquah for youth who are autistic, and the disruption meant his appointments with an occupational therapist and a speech pathologist were virtual too.

The virtual change heavily impacted Brennan, who struggled with severe anxiety and began lashing out physically. When his mother reached out for help, she found none — at least here in Washington. According to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as of November 2021, 52 of the 55 students receiving special education services in residential settings were doing so out of state. Washington taxpayers fund out-of-state placements, which totaled $12.8 million during the 2020-2021 school year.

Soundside host Libby Denkmann spoke with Northwest News Network reporter Austin Jenkins about his reporting on the issue. Read and hear his full report here.

Denkmann also talked to Ian Crosby, a parent of a child in the Mercer Island School District who is currently attending a therapeutic boarding school in New England.