School choice opponents warn that students with disabilities lose their federal protections when they enroll in private schools. "It's important for Arizona families to be aware of the rights they give up when they leave the public school system," said the state's Attorney General Kris Mayes. But the latest special education scandal casts further doubt on whether these rights help some parents at all. The details reported by The Arizona Republic are chilling and the district's response is infuriating.
"This child has been through hell," said Sandy Zelenka, recounting how her autistic second grader, Levi, was treated by Peoria Unified School District's autism program before transferring to a private school in 2020. Levi was restrained for long periods in an unfurnished closet-sized room until Zelenka was alerted by an assistant.
